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FRANK WEST ROIJJNS, Governor of New Hampshire, 1899- 1900. 



HISTORY 



FIFTEENTH REGIMENT 



New Hampshire Volunteers 



1862=1863 



By CHARLES McGREGOR 



PUBLISHED BV UKDKK OF THE 

Fifteenth Regiment Association 
1900 



Library of Conprew*. 

Two Copies Recfi/eo 
AUG 8 1900 

Copyriphf entry 

SECOND COPY. 

Delivered to 

ORDER DIVISION, 
Alio 10 1900 



67471 



Copn-RicuT, 1899, 
Bv Charles McGregor. 



L- 



\Silv 




MARY EMMA McGREGOR. 



To THE Memory of mv Deceased Wife, 

Hilary €mma ^HccBrcgor, 

who departed this life, at sunset of may 26, IN 

THE one hundred AND TWENTY-THIRD YEAR 

OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, JUST AS 

THIS BOOK \VENT TO PRESS, 

5 3n0cri6e (W^ 'U^orft. 

Charles McGregor. 



ASSURED we there dear ones shall meet. 

We loved in earth below ; 
Their faces grown in heaven so sweet 

That them we'd scarcely know ; 

And where, with ever brightening face, 
We may pursue an high ideal. 

Upon an ever upward race, 
Where all \ve hope for shall be real. 




#> 



CHARLES MCGREGOR, 
Historian Eifteenth New Hampshire Volunteers 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



The Roll of the Dead * . . . . 

Roll and preliminary sketch of Company A 
Roll and preliminary sketch of Company B 
Roll and preliminary sketch of Company C 
Roll and preliminary sketch of Company D 
Roll and preliminary sketch of Company E 
Roll and preliminary sketch of Company F 
Roll and preliminary sketch of Company G 
Roll and preliminary sketch of Company H 
Roll and preliminary sketch of Company I 
Roll and preliminary sketch of Company K 

The Band 

The Field and Staff .... 



The Regiment as an Organiz 

Preliminary remarks ..... 

Reception of its colors and departure from Concord 

Army Life at Long Island 

Voyage of the " James S. Green " 

Voyage of the " Prometheus " . 

Voyage of the "Cambria" 

Army Life at Carrollton 

Army Life at Camp Parapet 

Embarkation for Port Hudson . 

Its participation in the siege of Port Hudson 

The trip home and muster-out 



5 
38 
47 
59 
66 

74 

79 

84 

92 

98 

105 

1 10 

114 



134 
13^^ 
147 
166 
186 
194 
200 
218 
294 
310 
5S5 



* This, though it may be considered matter of reference merely, is 
given the place of honor in this work. 



INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE. 

Acro.ss the River from Camp Parapet . . . . . .250 

Aldrich, John ......... 39, 413 

Ames, Thomas G 24, 582 

Austin, A. A. . . . . . . . 391, 614 

Ayers, A. R. . . . . . . . . . 370 

Ayers, Lieutenant, Company G . . . . . . . 547 

Badger, E. A. . . . . . . . . . . 449 

Badger, Lewis D. . . . . . . . . . 483 

Bailey, George W. ........ . 3S7 

Baker, Hiram S. . . . . . . . . .10 

Banks, General .......... 439 

Barney, A. E. . . . '. . . . . . . 395 

Batchelder, B. B 505 

Bean, Lieutenant, Company C . . . . . . -59 

Bedell, Curtis .......... 495 

Berry, Governor . . . . . . . . .139 

Berry, Senator . . . . . . . . . -455 

Blair, Henry W 384, 3S5 

Blair, J. C. .......... 393 

Blake, John C. . . . . . . . . .167, 579 

Blake, Lewis .......... 5 

Broad, Ezra C. ......... 397 

Brown, H. R. . . . . . . . . 377, 596 

Brown, John C. ......... 479 

Bryant, Clark 163 

Bryant, James A 163 

Bunce, Charles C. ........ . 505 

Burbick, Cyrus ......... 7 

Burnham, B. F. ......... 487 

Burnham, Cyrus . . . . . . -457 

Burleigh, Alvin . . . . . . . . 50, 613 

Burley, J.J 372 

Carr, Dr. Edgar L 86. 613 

Carrollton and Parapet . . . -231 



List of Illustrations 



Chad wick, Lieutenant 

Chase, A. M. . 

Chesley, D. A. 

Church, Almon S. 

Church, Stephen C. . 

Coburn, W. I. 

Cogswell, Thomas 

Colby, Lieutenant 

Cox, A. V. 

Currier, John S. 

Currier, Samuel A. 

Davis, Moses B. 

Day, R. S. 

Dedication, The 

Dickey, John 

Dow, General . 

Drake, John A. 

Durgin, Lieutenant 

Dutton, Matthew 

Ela, Captain 

Elliott, Ephraim 

Eudy, Leonard AL 

Eudy, William D. 

Fife, Wesley 

Flags, The 

Fogg, John P. . 

Fowler, H. B. . 

Fowler, William M. . 

Frost, Lieutenant-Colonel 

Frost, Lorenzo . 

Furnald, T. E. . 

Gage, Dan B. . 

George, Frank H. 

Gilmore, Governor 

Goodhue, James W. 

Gordon, Captain 

Gordon, Sergeant, Company 

Hackett, George W. . 

Haines, A. C. . 



66 
378 
501 
457 
594 
490 
39. 605 
150 

459 
501 

477 
501 

39' 



399' 



601 

395 
66, 607 

393 
609 

395 
610 
6io 
14 
355 
399 
399 
615 
118 
142 
436 
6ig 

45' 
606 
603 
150 

499 
501 
607 



■ 63, 



List of Illustrations. 



Hall, Captain 
Hall, Enos K. . 
Hanson, Sergeant ]. ]. 
Hazeltine, Lieutenant 
Headquarters at The Weirs 
Hendley, Lieutenant 
Hill. Ira A. 
Historian, The 
Homeward Bound 
Hook, Hiram 
Horney, Charles G. . 
Hoyt, Isaac P>. . 
Hoyt, Isaac 15., and sister 
Horsch, Surgeon 
Huse, David S. 
Huse, E. IS. 
Huse, Lieutenant 
Janvrin, Assistant Surgeon 
Johnson, Captain 
Johnson, S. S. . 
Johnston, John . 
Kimball, Burgess C. . 
Kingman, Colonel 
Lancaster, John H. . 
Lang, Captain 
Larkin, Lieutenant 
Map of Route . 
Martin, Lieutenant 
Mason, I). I'. 
McCluer, R. M. 
McDaniel, George 
McGregor, Color Corporal 
McGregor, Mary Emma 
Merrick, Color Sergeant 
Menill, Rpckwood G. 
Mitchell, S. S. . 
Moore, M. L., and family 
Morrison, J. G. 
Morse, Austin 



PAGE 

. 510 

357, 364 
613 
619 
624 

39 
163 

viii 

5«7 
363, 602 
602 
157 
393 
3S1 



361 



66 

4S3 
619 

495 
[6. 140 

494 
59' 367 
490 
620 
611 
505 
433 
457 
5'' 
iv 

5'i 
9 

483 
485 

594 
487 



List of Illustrations. 



xm 



Mulligan. J. A. 
Nelson, Joseph B. 
Page, George A. 
Page, Lieutenant 
Parker, Amos V. 
Parker, Fernando 
Parker, Lieutenant 
Patch, Granville P. 
Penniman, Justus B. 
Perkins, John 
Perkins, Lieutenant 
Perry, Henry S. 
Philbrick, Josiah B. 
Philbrook, Daniel M 
Philbrook, Wm. H. 
Pickering, Lieutenant, 
Pinkham, Adjutant 
Pinkham, Captain 
Pollard, Milo C. 
Port Hudson 
Preston, John E. 
Proctor, Charles H. 
Randall, J. W. 
Richardson, John 
Roberts, Alvin H. 
Roby, Charles H. 
Rollins, A. C. . 
Rollins, Governor 
Sanborn. Anthony L 
Sanborn, Captain 
Sanborn, G. D. 
Seavey, Lieutenant 
Sherman, General 
Shute, John B. . 
Spencer, J. G. . 
Springfield Landing 
Stanley, William S. 
Stearns, Captain 
Stevens, William N. 



Com 



PAGE. 

594 
555 
483 

52 
555 
340 
148 
603 
9 
459 

92 

397 
165 

391 

494 

398 

359, 616 

98, 599 

• 495 
443. 463, 532, 55S 

• 583 

• 477 

• 479 

• 505 

• 395 
. 615 

487. 495 
Frontispiece 

613 
92 

379 
469 
352 
27 
447 
300 
380 
148 
594 



List oj niiistiatioiis. 



Swain, Corporal Cliarles F". 

Swain, J. J. 

Tebbetts, Noah 

Thurston, James C. . 

Towle, Sergeant, Company D 

Towle, Surgeon 

Tricl<ey, Corporal George VV. 

Vandyke, Isaac 

Wallingford, Lieutenant 

Washburn, Austin 

Washburn, John D. . 

Weeks, Noah M. 

Wells, Fred B. . 

Wheeler, Orrin F. 

White, Charles E. 

Whittemore, J. Irving 

Willard, Corp. Ezra C. 

Willey, Clark S. 

Wood, Lieutenant, Company E 

Wood, Lieutenant, Company K 

Wyatt, Lieutenant 

Youno;, Hanson H. . 



487, 



PAGE. 

615 

603 

487 
580 
506 
146 

621 

389 

457 

• 603 
577, 618 

. 615 

■ 397 

. 617 

. 86 

• 391 
. 148 

619 

52 

• 377 



389- 



THE 



Fifteenth New Hampshire 

VOLUNTEERS. 




i'RiNTi;i> r.v 

lira C. lEvantTs 

Concord, X. H. 



THE DEAD AND WHERIC THEY SLEEP 



" Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead, 
Dear as the blood ye gave ; 
No impious footstep here shall tread 
The herbage of }'()ur gra\e. 

" No rumor of the foe's achance 
Now sweeps upon the wind ; 
No troubled thought at midnight haunts 
Of loved ones left behind. 

"The muffled drum's sad roll has beat 
The soldier's last tatt(x) ; 
No more on life's parade shall meet 
That brave and fallen few. 

" No vision of the morrow's strife 
The warrior's dreams alarms ; 
No braying horn or screaming fife 
At dawn shall call to arms." 



ROLL OF THE DEAD. 



Company A — i8 Deaths. 

1. Orklx F. Wheeler, age 19, of diphtheria, at (jiltOrd, 
now Lakeport, November 22, 1862, not having left the state. 
This was the first death in the regiment. Hillside Cemetery, 
Laconia. 

2. Ge()R(;e T. Jacksox, age 30, of malarial fe\er, at 



)ute t< 



at ( 
lear 1 



Momid City, 111., August 6, 1863, while en 
Hillside Cemetery, Laconia. 

3. Sidney C. Hill, age 19, .of malarial poi.sonii 
manton, August 15, 1863. Gilmanton Cemetery, 
old home. 

4. XoAH M. Weeks, age 34, killed by shell at Tort 
Hudson, La., one o'clock of the morning of June 3, 1863. 
Port Hudson National Military Cemetery, grax'e unknown. 

5. Lewis Blake, age 43, of 
malarial fever, at Baton Rouge, 
June 22, 1863. Baton Rouge 
National Military C e m e t e r )', 
grave No. 2,446. 

6. Ansel F. Younc;, age 21, 
of general decline, at the Car- 
rollton Hospital, Louisiana, May 
14, 1863. Buried at Carrollton, 
La. One year afterwards, the 
remains were disinterred and for- 
warded to Belmont, N. H., where 
they now rest in the family 

cemetery. 

1 

LEWIS BLAKE — Co. A. 




6 The Fifteenth Xeie Hamf^shire I 'olnnteers. 

7. Akthlk S. Sa\\\i:k, a^c 30, of cli})hthci"ia, at Carroll- 
ton, La.. July 4. 1863. Body despatched home, but left 
somewhere on the way on account of imperfect casket. 

8. Lewis S. Be.\x, age 18, of disease, at United States 
barracks, New Orleans, La., July 16, 1863. Chalmette, 
unknown. 

9. Maklax p. Gilmax, ai;e 21, of fever, on steamer "City 
of Madison," July 29, 1863, while en route for home. His 
body, with that of Horace A. Burley, of Company H, was 
buried in the dense woods on an island at Alilliken's ]^end, 
a little way below the mouth of the Arkansas river, in the 
state of Arkansas. 

10. JoHX E. Takbell, age 36, of fever, July 31, 1863, on 
steamer " City of Madison," while en route for home. Buried 
at Helena, Ark., with James Sanborn, of Ccmipany D. 

I I. J.\c<)i; WiLEAKD, age 44, of congestive chills, at three 
o'clock in the afternoon of August 6, 1863, on train, at Dun- 
kirk, Pa., while en route for home. J^ody left at Buffalo, 
X. \'., for burial ; it la\- on a railroad truck, wrapped in a 
blanket, when the train ])ulled out. h'orest Lawn Cemetery, 
soldiers' lot, Buffalo, X. V. 

12. RoNAi. BovxTox, age 44, of disease, at Lake X'illage, 
X. H.. August 10, 1863. lUr.-ied at Lake X'illage. 

13. 'rii()>E\s W. Mi:Run.i., age 2j , of fever, at Concoixl. 
X. II., August II, 1863. Buried at Gilmanton Iron Works. 

14. Cm.\ki.i:s v.. Cl.w, age 21, of diphtheria, at Carrollton, 
La., P'ebruary 25, 1863. Discharged for disabilil}' and died 
same da\'. His comrades subscribed Si 25 tor a metallic case 
in which to send the body home. This was the first death 
in Comj)any A after reaching the enemy's country. Huried 
in Pelmont. 

13. Cn.\Ki.i:s I-". .SwAix, age 35, of malaria, at (iiltord, 
now Lakeport, Sej)tember 13, 1863. Iknied at Gilford. 



Roll of lite Dead. ; 

i6. James W. Blake, age 21, of disease, at Gilford, now 
Lakeport, August 27, 1863. Hillside Cemetery. 

17. Dewit Clinton, age 44, of climatic fever, at (iilford, 
now Lakeport, August 13, 1863. Hillside Cemetery. 

18. AiLNEK W. Morse, age 26, of typhoid fever, at Marine 
Hospital, New Orleans, La., March 18, 1863. Hody des- 
patched for home, but was cast overboard into the sea during 
the voyage on account of defective casket. 

Company B — 24 Deaths. 



1. Benjamin F. Adams, age 20, killed in action. May 27, 
1863, at Port Hudson, La. Port Hudson Xational Military 
Cemetery, grave unknown. Was shot through the heart. 

2. William P. Averv, age 18, of diphtheria, March 16, 
1863, at Camp Parapet, Louisiana. Buried March 17 with 
military honors. 

3. ThOx\l\s a. Barstow, age },"] , killed in action at Port 
Hudson, La., May 27, 1863. Port Hudson Natiimal Military 
Cemetery, Port Hudson, La., grave unknown. 

4. Henry W. Benton, age 
28, of fever. May 11, 1863, at 
Carrollton, La. He was on guard 
at Carrollton depot, and in the 
night tripped on the railroad 
track, and in falling his gun dis- 
charged, tearing off one of his 
thumbs. He was taken to the 
hospital to haxe this wound 
dressed, and ne\er returned. 

5. Joseph Brown, ]\<., age 
19, of diphtheria, August 11, 
1863, at Campton, N. H. 

6. Cyrls Blrp.ick, age 30, 
of congestive chills, at Chicago ^^^^^ bcrbick 




8 Tlic I'lftccuth Xcw Ilavipshirc 1 'oluutccrs. 

Marine Hospital, .■\u,L;ust 7, 1863, while en route fur home. 
Buried in Rose Mill Cemetery, ChicaL;(), in the soldiers' lot. 
A rei;ister is ke])t of all soldiers' burials in this cemeter)-, 
enabling friends to hnd their praxes. 

7. Jonah Ca.mi", age 40, of disease, at Memphis (ieneral 
Hospital, IVIemphis, Tenn., August 6, 1863. Left sick while 
en route for home. I'nited States National Military Ceme- 
tery, Memphis, Tenn., grave No. 4,087. 

8. Hexkv Cook, age 35, of disease, at Buffalo, N. Y., 
August 13, 1863. Left sick while en route for home. 
Soldiers' lot. Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, N. Y. 

g. BvKox Elliott, age 19, of wounds receixed in battle, 
at Tort Hudson, La., May 27, 1863. Died June 5, 1863. 
Wounded in right side. 

10. W'alti'.k B. Farxum, age 24, of diphtheria, at l^aton 
Rouge, La., June 16, 1863. Baton Rouge National Ceme- 
tery, gra\e No. 2,202. He was the smallest boy in the com- 
pany. He was taken sick on the twenty-fifth of Ma\" while 
on the " firing line" ; he remained on duty, and on the 
twent}-si.\th was wounded while on picket. He was thus 
the first of the regiment to receixe injur)' from the fire of 
the enem}-. He participated in the battle of the twent)- 
seventh, after which he was sent to hospital ; he was haxing 
vomiting spells as he bade his comrades good bxe. He was 
ne\er seen of his companx' afterwards. He was of a xerx' 
sunny nature, and was accustomed to xisit the boxs in the 
hosi:)itals at Carrollton and cheer them with his kindl}' offices 
and xvords of encouragement. 

I I. Ai;s()i.\M l-"(iKi>, age 22, of fexer, at Memphis, Tenn.. 
August 4, 1863. Left at Memphis sick xvhile en route for 
home. United States National Militarx' Cemetery, Mem- 
phis, 'i'enn., graxe Xo. 4,092. 

12. W'n.Di'.K B. (iKii-i-i\, age 26, of fexer, Julx' 16, 1863, 
at liaton Rouge, La. L'nited States National Mililarx' Ceme- 
terx', i^aton Rouge, La., graxe No. 1.549. 



Roll of the Dead. 



13. HvLAs Hackktt, age 18, of fcvcr. Au-usl 5, 1S63, 
at Memphis, Tenn., while en route for home. 

14. ]'>i)\viN" A. Hart, age 18, of malarial fe\er, August 
18, 1863, at Camptou \"illage. 

15. Isaac S. Joxks, age 27. of fe\er, June 17, 1863, in 
camp, at Carrollton, La. 

16. John Kimball, age 20, of malaria, i\Iay 28, 1863, at 
Camp Parapet, La. 

17. RocKWooi) G. Merrill, 
drum major, age 21, at Bridge- 
water, N. H., August 25, 1863. 
Dropped dead just as he reached 
his own door. 

18. JosKi'H B. Nelson, age 
21, of fever, July 9, 1863, at 
Port Hudson, La. 

19. Ge()R(;e a. Page, age 
24, of malaria, at Cairo, 111., 
August 3, 1863, while en route 



ROCKWOOI) C. MKRKII.L — Co. U. 

for home. Was buried on the 
Kentucky shore ; ordered re- 
moved by the civil authorities; 
re-interred on the Ohio side ; 
again removed to Mound City 
National Military Cemetery. 

20. Jlstls B. Pexniman, age 
18, wounded in battle at Port 
Hudson, La., May 2-j , 1863, 
died of his injuries at New 





Pl-XXniAN 



10 The FiftcLiith Xcik.' Hanipsliirc W^luntccrs. 

Orleans, La., June i6, 1863; both leL;s shot off below the 
knees. The i\. A. R. Post at Plymouth is named in his 
honor, and it is said he was the first man killed from that 
town. He was one of the volunteers of May 27, and carried 
a plank to bridt;e the enemy's ditch. 

21. Ch.vklks G. Perkins, age 21, of fever, January 12, 
1863, at Carrollton, La. Disinterred from Carrollton avenue 
and removed to Chalmette National Military Cemetery, grave 
Xo. 8,334. This was the first death in the regiment after 
reaching the enemy's country, and occurred seventeen days 
after the landing at Carrollton. 

22. George W. Plummer, age 35, of fever, at Carrollton, 
La., PY'bruary 16, 1863. Chalmette National Military Ceme- 
terv, grave No. 8,340. Disinterred from Carrollton avenue. 

23. Harvey D. Powers, age 20, mortall}- wounded in 
action, at Port Hudson, La., June 13, 1863. Died June 26, 
1863, at Baton Rouge, La. Baton Rouge National Military 
Cemetery, grave No. 2,451. Wounded in leg. 

24. Charles H. Willev, age 25, died June 20, 1863, at 
Baton Rouge, La., of wounds received in action at Port Hud- 
son, La., May 2'j , 1863. L^nited States National Military 
Cemetery, Baton Rouge, La., grave No. 2,356. Wounded in 
ankle. See register. Company B. 





CoMi'Axv C — 30 Deaths. 

I. HiKA.M S. Baki:k, age 27, 
of climatic fe\e.-, on steamei- 
" Cit\' of Ahidison," while en 
route for home, six miles abo\e 
Memphis, Tenn., and buried on 
the Tennessee shore on a high 
bluif under a large tree. The 
])urial took place while the boat 
la\- loo lor repairs. Dale of 
death and l)uri;d, August 1. 1863. 
He tlied in the forenoon at ten 
o'clock. 



lin<.\M S liAKl'.K Cm. 1. 



Roil of the Dead 1 1 

2. David Batchelder, age 19, died at \e\v Orleans, La., 
June 13, 1863, of wounds received in battle May 27, 1863, 
at Port Hudson, La. Chalmette National Military Cemetery, 
grave unknown. 

3. JoHX Bishop, age 44, of disease, August 4, 1863, at 
Memphis, Tenn., where he was left sick while en route for 
home. United States Military Cemetery, Memphis, Tenn., 
unknown grave. 

4. Dexter E. Butmax, age ig, of climatic fever, April 
22, 1863, in regimental hospital, at CarroUton, La. Buried 
in George Hill Cemeterv, Enfield, X. H. 

age 25, musterec 

Died of diarrhoea and general dcbilit}' 
the next day at Concord. Buried at Bath. 

6. Albert Chamherlaix, age 18, of malarial fexer, at 
the regimental hospital, Camp Parapet, La., Ma}- 8, 1863. 
Chalmette National Military Cemetery, grave No. 1,032. Dis- 
interred from Camp Parapet. 

7. PLvRRV Chamberlaix, age 24, of fever, May 18, 
1863, at regimental hospital. Camp Parapet, La. Chalmette, 
unknown grave. 

8. Stephex C. Church, age 41, of disease, at Mem])his, 
Tenn., September 3, 1863. Left there sick while en route 
for home. United States National Military Cemetery, Mem- 
phis, Tenn., grave No. 4,067. 

9. JoHX Clark, age 44, of disease, at Bath, N. H., August 
I I, 1863. Buried at Bath. 

10. Charles Cram, age 29, of climatic fever, at regi- 
mental hospital. Port Hudson. La., July 25, 1863. Port 
Hudson Military Cemetery, unknown. 

11. P:x()CH C. De.vrth, age 31, of malarial fe\er, at Car- 
roUton, La., May 26, 1863. Chalmette, unknown. 

12. Charles B. P:la, age 32, accidentally shot by a com- 
rade, at CarroUton, La., and died of the wound January 19, 



12 The Fifteenth Xei<' Ilauipshire ]^oluiiteers. 

1863, at i;encral hospital, Carrollton, La. Buried at Carroll- 
ton, La., January 20, ICS63, at four o'clock in the afternoon. 
Chalmette, unknown. 

13. John C. Fuller, age 41, missing in action May 27, 
1863, at Port Hudson, La. Undoubtedly mortall}' wounded 
and captured by the enemy, and carried within their works. 
He must have died inside the fortifications of Port Hudson, 
and been there buried b}' the eneni)'. Was nexer seen nor 
heard from afterwards by any of his comrades. 

14. Dan B. G.age, age 41, of climatic diseases, at Mem- 
phis, Tenn., August i, 1863, while en route for home. 
United States Military Cemetery, Memphis, Tenn., gra\e 
No. 4,089. 

15. Buk(;es.s C. Klmhall, age 18, of malarial fever and 
general debility, at Lnfield, X. H., August 15, 1863. Old 
Burying Ground, I'hifield. 

16. Iu)w.M<i) P. Little, age 21, of disease, at regimental 
hospital, Carrollton, La., May 18, 1863. Chalmette, unknown. 

17. JoiLx W. MiLLEX, age 22, of fever, at Bath, X. H.. 
August 9, 1863. Buried at Bath. 

18. J.\Mi:s A. Mlllicax, age 25, of disease, at ICnHeld, 
August 28, 1863. Methodist Hill Cemetery. 

19. P'kancls a. Oakes, age 22, of disease, at Jk-nton, 
N. H., August 9, 1863. P^ast Cemetery. 

20. Amos V. Pakki'.k, age i"] , of diarrho-a and fexei", at 
l^aton Rouge, La., Jul)- 9, 1863, the da)' of the surrender. 
United .States Militar)' Cemeterx', Baton Rouge, La., grave 
No. 2,461. 

21. John a. P()\\t:ks, age 27, of disease, at Concord, 
X. H., August 13, 1863, the da}- of the muster out. 

22. A\i)Ki:\\ J. Roi'.ER-rs, age 42, of disease, at Concord, 
X. II.. August 13, 1863, the day of the muster out. Oak 
Grove Cemeter)-, J'jifield, X. 11. 



Roll of the Dead. ' 1 3 

23. Isaac Smith, a.i,^e 29. Died at I'ort Hudson, May 
28, 1863, of wounds received in the battle of May 27 at that 
place. United States National Military Cemetery, Port 
Hudson, La., unknown grave. 

24. Daniel Spooner, age 23, of disease, September 7, 
1863, at Haverhill, N. H. 

25. William N. Stfa'exs, age 21, of disease, at Hanover, 
N. H., April 30, 1863. Was discharged for disal)ility at 
Carrollton, La., March 27, 1863. Roodsboro Cemetery, 
Hanover. 

26. John Stewart, age 44, of fever, at Memphis, Tenn., 
at three o'clock p. m. of July 31, 1863, while en route for 
home. Memphis Military Cemetery, unknown grave. 

27. James C. Thurstox, age 18, of sore throat, at Port 
Hudson, La., July 15, 1863. Port Hudson Military Ceme- 
ter}-, unknown grave. 

28. Le\i L. Tvrrell, age },},, of disease, at Buffalo, 
X. v., August 16, 1863, while en route for home. Soldiers' 
lot, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, N. V. 

29. P2lias S. Whittier, age 30, of fever and sore throat, 
at Port Hudson, La., July 14, 1863. United States National 
Military Cemetery, Port Hudson, La., unknown gra\e. 

30. Benjamin ¥ . Burnham, age ^d, of disease, August 7, 
1863, at Chicago, 111., while en route for home. Oak Grove 
Cemetery, Lnfield, N. H. 

CoMPANV D — 20 Deaths. 

1. Capt. Jonathan H. Johnson, age 46. Died at Deer- 
field, N. H., October 13, 1863, of injuries received in battle, 
June 14, 1863, at Port Hudson, La. South Road Cemetery, 
Deerfield, N. H. 

2. P^nwARD p. Lane, age 18, of climatic fe\er, at Carroll- 
ton, La., P'ebruary 10, 1863. Buried at Carnjllton avenue. 
Removed to Chalmette, grave No. 8,894. 



The FiftcchtJt Xci^< Hinnpshirc ]'oIuntccrs. 



3. Frank L. Adams, age 27, of disease contracted in the 
service, February 10, 1S64, at Fden, Vt. 

4. Benjamin V. Swain, age 18, of fe\er, July 28, 1863, 
on steamer "City of Madison," near X'icksburg, while en 
route for home. Buried on the river bank. 

5. JcjsEPH \V. Chase, age 18, of malarial fe\-er, March 20. 
1863, at Camp Parapet, Louisiana. Was buried north of the 
parapet with imposing ceremonies, the band ofificiating. His 
remains occupy one of the unknown graves in Chalmette. 
A stone, erected to his memory, stands in the Old Centre 
Cemetery at Deerfield, N. H. 

,j I -■ ,-„-,.^.—. 6. W'i'LSLEV Fife, age 28, of 

malarial fe\'er, Januarv 31, 1863, 
at Carrollton, La. First death 
in Conipan}- D. Was buried at 
Carrollton a\-enue ; the bod}' now 
rests in Chalmette among the 
unknown. 

7. Daniel Hall, age '}^~ , of 
sunstroke, at Port Hudson. La., 
^yf July 7. 1863. United States 

hA National Military Cemetery, 

■H grave No. 3,116. 

JN^U^ HM l^^A '^' ^^ <i'^''-^^' ^- ^"^'I'l'-VENs, age 

lll^V ^^B^^Hi ' 4^' "^ ^<^'i-ite dysentery, August 

2, 1863, at Mem])his, Tenn., 
where he was left sick while en 
States National Military Cemetery, 
4-076. 




"^«^. 



WKSLKY I-IHH 



route for home. L'nited 
Memphis, Tenn., graxe N( 

9. Ai.i'.ioN A. l^EAN, age 19, of disease, August 31, 1863, 
at Deerfield. N. II. Old Centre Cemetery. 

10. William 11 T w i.ok, age 44, of disease, August 5, 
1863, at Chicago. 111. A stone erected to his memory stands 
in the cemetery at Northwood Centre. lUuietl at Chicago. 



Kol/ of the Dead. \ 5 

11. Walter \V. Bi:a\, age 19, of disease, at Candia, 
N. H., August 23, 1863. 

12. Chase C. Fuller, age 44, of disease, Sei)tember 7, 
1863, at Northwood, N. H. 

13. Walter G. Brackett, age 18, of fever, at Alemiihis, 
Tenn., August 10, 1863, where he was left sick wliile en 
route for home. United States IVIihtar}' Cemeter\- at Mem- 
phis, Tenn., grave No. 4,090. 

14. JoHX O. Lax(;lev, age 41, killed at I'ort Hudson, 
La., while on the picket line, July i, 1863. He rests among 
the unknown in the I'nited States Militar}' CemeteiA' at 
Port Hudson. 

15. John S. Lancaster, age 18, of dysenter)-, Jul)- 18, 
1863, at Port Hudson, La. Unknown gra\e. Port Hudson 
National Military Cemetery. 

16. Charles S. Marston, age 20, of fever, at ten o'clock 
in the afternoon of February 14, 1863, at Can-ollton, La. 
Buried at Carrollton avenue. His remains haxe been remo\ed 
and now occupy one of the unknown graves in Chalmette. 

17. Josiah Bradburv Philp.rick, age 24, of t)])li()i(l fe\er, 
at Warner, N. H., October 2, 1863. While being mustered 
out, was stricken with typhoid fever caused b}' exposure, and 
carried to the home of his wife's parents in Warner, where 
he died October 2, 1863, aged 24 years. He left a wife and 
one daughter, Meribah Porter Philbrick. He was the onl\- 
son of Levi B. and Meribah Seavey Philbrick ; well educated 
in the public schools and Pembroke and New London acad- 
emies. An inordinate reader, read}- writer, and superior 
public speaker ; a patriotic and braxe soldier, ])opular with 
his comrades and belo\-ed b}- all who knew him. l^uried with 
military honors in South Deerfield, N. H., deeply lamented. 
A comrade writes of him as follows: "Josiah B. Philbrick, 
better known as ' J^rad,' was one of those indis]K'nsable 
persons in camp life; intelligent, quick witted, and humorous. 



1 6 The hlftcotth Xcw Hampshire I'oluiitccrs. 

in fact a first-class anecdote relater, never lacking for a story 
to fit the occasion, making brightness and sunshine to bi'eak 
the monotony of army life. Being a good cook, he was 
detailed as such until we moved up the river to Port Hudson, 
where he took part in the siege of that place." He partici- 
pated in all the hardships and dangers of the siege — worked 
in the trenches, and on battery sixteen, ser\-ed as sharp- 
shooter and on the picket line, and was in the two great 
battles of May 27 and June 14. 

18. John Richakdsox, age 24, of disease, August 8, 1863, 
at Concord, X. H. Buried at Xorthwood, Richardson's 
Cemetery. 

19. James Saxisorx, age 41, of disease, on steamer "City 
of Madison," July 31, 1863, while on the passage h(;me. 
Buried on the bank of the Mississippi river at Helena, with 
John A. Tarbcll, of Company A. 

20. ■ Chaki.ks F. Smith, age 44, of ))neumonia, i<"ebruary 
15, 1863, at Carrollton, La. Buried at Carrollton a\enue. 
I'Lxhumed by the goxernment and remoxed to Chalmette, 
grave Xo. 2,601. There is a stone erected to his memory in 
the Smith Cemetery at Ueerhekl. 

Ci»M!'\X\' v. 13 Dl'.AlllS. 

1. l)A\'ii) L. Axxis. of disease contracted in the service, 
at Litchfield. X. H., December 25, 1863. 

2. W'li.i.is H. Hkowx, age 18, of disease, ^hlstered out 
yXugust 13, 1863. Died next tlay at Aubui'n, X. II. 

3. JtiXATiiAX l^iKP.AXK, age 29, of disease, at Memphis, 
Tenn., .\ugust 11, 1863, where he was left sick while en 
route for home. 

4. lli'.XKV Bi Ti i:ki-ii:i.i), age 20, of disease, at Memphis. 
Temi.. .August 3. 1863. Lnited States Military Cemetery, 
Memphis, Tenn., gra\e Xo. 4,082. 

5. I-'kaxk a. CiiLiiv, age 18, of disease, at Tort Ihulson, 
La., julv 21, 1863. 



Roll of the Dead. 1 7 

6. Levkke L. Dli'lkssis, age n, of disease, at New 
Orleans, La., Au<;ust 10, 1863. 

7. William H. Hodcimax, age 18, (^f typhoid lexer, at 
Camp Mansfield, La. (on the "shell road" at Carrollton), 
January 23, 1863, at half-past nine o'cloek in the forenoon. 
Buried at three o'cloek in the afternoon of the same day at 
Carrollton avenue. 

8. Ferxaxdo Parker, age 27, fell in battle at I'ort 
Hudson, La., May 27, 1863. (See James G. Morrison, 
Company H.) Port Hudson National Military Cemeter\-, 
grave unknown. 

9. Lewis \V. Sixclair, age 30, of disease, at Port Hud- 
son, La., July 25, 1863. 

10. JoHx C. Smith, age 41, of disease, at Hollis, \. LL, 
August 10, 1863. 

11. George Y. Texxev, age 20, of disease, at Townsend, 
Mass., August 21, 1863. 

12. Jesse Woods, age 28, of chronic diarrhoea, at Carroll- 
ton, La., February 16, 1863. Buried at Carrollton a\enue. 
Removed to grave No. 8,890, Chalmette. 

13. F"raxk C. Woods, age 22, of disease, at Auburn, 
N. H., September 18, 1863. 

Compaxv Y — 20 Deaths. 

Lines from Corporal Bullock's diary : 

When I am gone 
Weep not for me, when 
You stand by my gra\'e ; 
Plant you a tree which 
May wave over me 
When I am gone. 
Sing me a song if my 
Grave you shall see, 
When I am gone ; 



1 8 The Fifticnth Xc7c Ilavipshirc W^litntccrs. 

Come at the close of a 
l^rii;ht summer da)- — 
Come when the sun 
Sheds his last 
Lingering ray ; 
Come and rejoice 
That I've passed on x\\\ wa)-, 
When I am gone. 

1. Gec)R(;e I'. CoLBV, age i8, of brain fe\-er, at Carroll- 
ton, La., Monday, February 2, 1863. Chalmette National 
Military Cemetery, gra^•e No. 8,155. Disinterred from Car- 
rollton avenue. His headstone is erroneously marked, " Co. 
C, First N. H. Cavalry." 

2. Thomas Drxi.AP, age 37, of fever, at Carrollton, La., 
March 7, 1863. Was buried March 8. Body disinterred 
and sent home in November following, and now lies in the 
Congregational Cemetery at Danbury. 

3. Fnwix Dkihton Aldkich, age " 18 " (said to have been 
under 17), fell in battle May 27, 1863, at Port Hudson, La. 
He received several shots, but continued to load and fire until 
his strength failetl him. At the last he said to a comrade, 
"Tell mother that poor Dighton fought just as long as he 
could." He sleeps among the great " unknown " in the 
United States National Military Cemetery, at Port Hudson, 
almost on the \er\- battleheUl where he fell. 

4. Ai.r.i-'.Kr i'^. Parnia', age 21, of fever, at Port Hudson, 
La., |ul\- 12, 1863. He died \er\- suddenlw I'nknown, 
Port Hudson National Military Cemeter_\-. 

5. P)i:.\ri:K V . Pkahhikv, age 2'. of (lii)htheria, July 19, 
1863, at St. James HosjMtal, New Orleans, La. Chalmette, 
unknown. 

6. (ii-.(»K(.i-: II. Prn.i-.K, age 19, killed at Port Hudson, 
La., julv 2, 1863. Port Hudson National Military Cemetery, 
unknown. 



Roll of the Dead. 19 

7. CvKUs Ik'RXHAM, a[;c 23, of disease, September 5, 1863, 
at Wentwoith, N. H. l^uried at W'entworth. 

8. Almox S. Church, age 19, of disease of throat, August 
29, 1863, at Memphis, Tenn., where he was left sick on the 
passage home. United States National Militar\' Cemeter\ , 
Memphis, Tenn., grave No. 4,081. 

9. William \V. Dustin, age 43, wounded June i 1, 1863, 
at Port Hudson, La., while supporting a batter}-, Minie ball 
passed through right leg. Died of his wound July 21, 1863, 
at Baton Rouge, in hospital. United States National Mili- 
tary Cemetery, Baton Rouge, La., grave No. 2,372. 

10. Joseph E. Follansbee, age 27, of disease, at (irafton, 
N. H., September 7, 1863. Said by his comrades to ha\e 
never missed any duty, to have participated in all the battles 
around Port Hudson, and to ha\'e sought |)()sts of danger 
during the siege. He came home to find his wife, whom he 
had just married before enlisting, sick witfi diphtheria, of 
which she died two days prior to his decease, and both were 
buried in the Grafton Centre Cemetery at Grafton. 

1 1. John Gross, age 25, of measles and disease of throat, 
at Carrollton, La., May 9, 1863. Buried at Carrollton 
avenue. Removed by government to "Chalmette." gra\e 
No. 8,165. 

12. P^LiAs H. Haulev, age 22, died of wounds at Port 
Hudson, La. Port Hudson National Militar)- Cemeter_\-, 
unknown. Volunteered June 13, 1863, at Port Hudson to 
be one of a hundred to achance as skirmishers on the enem)''s 
works. A Minie ball shattered his shoulder. During a 
truce the enemy's surgeons kindly offered to take him inside 
their works and dress his wounds ; this he refused. La)" on 
the field in the hot sun till night and bled almost to the point 
of death. His arm was removed at the socket ; expired soon 
after the amputation. This is the boy of whom Lieutenant- 
colonel Bacon, of the Sixth Michigan, in his Bacon's "Among 



20 The Fifteenth Xeie Hampshire I'ohniteers. 

the Cotton Thieves," says : (It is late at ni^^ht of the thir- 
teenth of June.) " I am mounted again, waiting beside the 
oj^en hospital building for Doctor Mottram, who has been 
called upon by Doctor Sanger, the division surgeon, to stay 
and help in an extraordinary case, now in hand. And what 
a sight is before me ! There is the dim flicker of lights in 
the midst of surgeons, with their young assistants, crowded 
around a rough bench, on which lies the subject, a nobly 
formed young volunteer of the 1^'ifteenth New Hampshire. 
Chloroform has been used in \ain ; he is crying, ' Kill me ! 
kill me, oh kill me ! ' I see his large, manly breast, heaving 
with agon\-, as he lies on his back, held by some of the 
young doctors, who ha\e their eyes set on the hands of the 
older doctors, at work now with probe, now with knife and 
saw, and now with other frightfully appearing instruments of 
torture. The young man has been shot in the shoulder, and 
the doctors are removing his arm at the socket. Some one 
ot them sa}s aloud, 'There is not much chance for him.' 
The glimmer of candles flickering in the night breeze, dimly 
showing the naked form of the writhing xictim, and the hard 
faces of the surgeons, with their bloodv hands and saws — 
the darkness hanging over us like a pall, the stars sparkling 
in the vault of hea\-en, the same stars beheld by our friends 
at home far away and b\- our enemies in the beleagured fort 
before us — all together make a tableau not to be forgotten. 
I am glad to And myself at last riding awa\' from the horrid 
odors and sights of that hos])ital. The voices of myriad 
insects of e\er_\- kind and si/e, and the occasional boom of a 
cannon, with straggling shots from sharpshooters, are not 
enough to drive from m}- ears the groans and cries of the 
poor New Hampshire boy, dying in the hands (jf the surgeons 
as we left." 

13. GfsT.WL-s LovKKixc, agc 27, of typhoid fever, I'eb- 
ruary i, iSTj^, at four o'clock in the morning, at Carrollton, 
I. a. Died \erv suddenh' ; the (la\- but one before his death 



Roll of the Dead. 2 1 

he was about the camp. Was Iniried at Carrolhon avenue at 
four o'clock in the afternoon of the same da}- ; the company 
formed, and headed by the band, marched from the jiarapet 
to Carrollton to attend his funeral. Disinterred from Carroll- 
ton avenue by the i;t)vernment, and removed to i^raxe Xo. 
8,339, Chalmette. 

14. Jesse Martin, age 18, of malarial poisoning, August 
16. 1863, at Grafton, N. H. Razor Hill Cemetery. 

15. John Marcott, age 22, of malarial fever, at Memphis, 
Tenn., August 5, 1863, while en route for home. Comrade 
Isaac Hoyt spoke to him as he was about to be carried 
ashore from the "City of Madison." He gave a look of 
recognition, but could not speak. United States National 
Military Cemeter)', Memphis, Tenn., grave No. 4,096. 

16. Gilbert J. Robie, age 27, of disease, August 3, 1863, 
at Memphis, Tenn. His remains rest in that city, in the 
United States Military Cemetery, grave No. 4,079. 

17. JoHx Tavlor, age 40, of malarial fever, at Baton 
Rouge, La., June 8, 1863. Baton Rouge National Militar\- 
Cemetery, grave No. 2,704. 

. 18. Dox C. Washburn, age 23, of disease, August 22, 
1863, at Canaan, N. H. His sickness began with a vomiting 
spell while standing in line on the night of June 30, waiting 
for the "midnight charge." Buried at West Canaan Ceme- 
tery. 

19. Alvah Gilman, age 44, of disease, June 3, 1863, at 
Baton Rouge, La. United States National Military Ceme- 
tery, Baton Rouge, La., grave No. 258. 

20. James W. Lull, age 40, wounded May 27, 1863, at 
Port Hudson, La., and died of his injuries in New York city, 
August 16, 1863. He fell near Edwin D. Aldrich, with a 
shot in the shoulder. 



The 1-iftccnth Xcic Hainpshiir J'o/nufccrs. 



\ 



CoMi'Axv G — 15 Deaths. 

I. James W. Shaw, age 27. Was shot thnnigh the 
wrist at Port Hudson, La. Died of cHsease at Pittsheld, 
X. H., August 16, 1863. Buried in Pittsficld. 

fmsmmm ^ -• ^^-'''"^ -'^- ^'-■^^' =^s-e is. 

'^ '^ ^^^"^ '"""-' "* ^'"^^ ^^^y -7 volun- 

%% teers. Died of disease at Mound 
f^ City, 111., August 9, 1S63. where 
^m he was left sick while en I'oute 

^^ home. Buried at Mound City. 
., ■ 3. JoHx S. W'hiddex, age 19, 
,'|-.iij of disease, August 2, 1863, at 
;iT Memphis, Tenn., while en route 
home. Memphis Military Ceme- 
tery, unknown grave. 

4. Hi:xKV H. Berrv, age 2-/, 
of disease, June 5, 1863, at Car- 
rollton. La. Chalmette, gra\-e 
unknown. 

5. AxDKEW J. Cross, age 34. 
of disease, July 3, 1863, at Baton 

Rouge, La. He sleeps in the Baton ivoute National Military 
Cemeter)-, gra\e Xo. 2,467. 

6. JoHX Cate, age 44, wounded in battle of Ma)' 2j, 1863, 
at Port Hudson, La., and tlied of his wounds June 8. 1863, 
at Baton Rouge, La., where he now lies in the L'nited States 
Mihtar_\- Cemetei-)', gra\e Xo. 2,558. 

7. William A. l<"()\i-:, age 27, of t\phoitl fe\er — ague 
set in at last — at 1 i". m., March 26, 1863, at Carrollton, La. 
This was the first death in the comjianw The bod\' was 
embalmed and sent on its wa\- home for burial, but the casket 
proving defect i\e it was cast o\erboard into the sea near Key 
West, off the southern point of Morida. 




Roll of the Dead. 23 

8. Joiix Hill, ai;c 44, ot disease, at Buffalo, X. V., 
August 13, 1863, while on the passage home. This was the 
day of the muster out. Soldiers" lot. Forest Lawn Cemetery, 
Buffalo, N. Y. 

■9. Saml'el G. L()\ERix(i, age 35, fell in battle of May 
27, 1863, at Port Hudson, La. He was shot in the centre 
of the forehead ; the ball carried the sight of his ritle into the 
wound. Port LIudson Military Cemetery, gra\e unknown. 

10. Joiix C. l\L\s()x, age 18, of diphtheria on board 
train on homeward passage at Cleveland, ()., August 6, 1863. 
He was said to have been only fifteen years of age. He was 
of a very cheerful and buoyant nature ; with him, mirth and 
fun never flagged — he was the life of the camj). He died 
\'ery suddenly at last, falling dead instantly as the disease 
reached a vital part. He was left at Cleveland for burial. 

11. H.\ZEX D. Nutter, age 18, of disease, July 7, 1863, 
at Baton Rouge, La., where he lies in the National Military 
Cemetery among the unknown. 

12. JosLMi SwALX, age 21, of chronic diarrhcea, August 
5, 1863, at Mound City, 111. Smallest boy in the regiment. 
His comrade, H. L. Rc^binson, relates in his history of 
" Pittsfield in the Rebellion," that one day before the 
muster in, as the regiment was standing in line for inspec- 
tion by the colonel, that Swain increased his height by 
scraping together a little ])ile of dirt with his feet and 
standing on it, which the colonel t)bserving remarked, " \'ou'll 
do ; what you lack in stature you make up in sand." 

I 3. R()i;v Trie, age 44, of chronic diarrhtea, at Carrollton, 
La., March 2)^. 1863, at ten o'clock in the evening. His 
body was cast into the sea while on its passage home, under 
the same circumstances and at the same time and ])lace as 
that of his comrade, William A. Foye, who died the day 
before. 



24 



The I-lftcciith Xcio Hiinupshiir J 'oluutccn 



14. ^'\Lr,i:RT \\. W'lXGATE, age 18, of disease, Jul}- 12, 
1863, at Port Hudson, La., where he lies in the I'nited 
States Military Cemctcr}-, anioni;- the unknown. 

15. h^xocii M. VouxG, age 20, of disease, June 2, 1N63, 
at New Orleans, La. Chalmettc, grave unknown. 



Company H — 15 Deaths. 

1. Thomas Gaki)Xi:k A>h:s, 
age 21, of diphtheria, within the 
works at Port Hudson, La., July 
20, 1863. Port Hudson Military 
Cemetery, grave unknown. He 
was a great sufferer in the end, 
and begged of a eomrade who 
took care of him to end his 
miser}- b}' death. 

2. HoKACK A. BUKLEV, agc 

18, of disease, on steamer " Cit}" 
of Madison," on the passage 
up the river, at one o'clock in 
the mon-iing of Jul}' 30, 1863. 
His body, with that of Harlan 
P. Ciilman, of Compau}- A, was 
put ashore and buried at Milliken's W^wCi, on an island, in 
the dense woods, a little way below the mouth of the 
Arkansas rixer. 

3. jA>n:s II. U. Blaisoeli., age 39, wcnmded May 27, 
1863, in the battle of that dale, at Port Hudson, La., and 
died of his wounds June 30, 1863, at that place. l'id<nown. 
Port Hudson National Military Cemetery. 

4. (ii:()K(.i. !■". How i-.Ks, age 18, of malarial fever, at Camp 
I'arapet, La., Ala} 9, 1863. Chalmette, grave Xo. 1,036. 
Disinterred from Cani]) ParajK't by the government. 




SERGEANT AMES — Co. H. 



Roll of 1 he Dead. 25 

5. Noah Chattle, age 22, killed in battle May 27, icS63, 
at Port Hudson, La., where he now lies in the Militar\- 
Cemetery, grave No. 2,660. 

6. Moses E. Eastman, age 21, of disease, on steamer 
"City of Madison," at Natchez, Miss., July 27. 1863. Died 
just as the boat was about to leave; his bod)- was ])laced on 
shore, rolled in his blanket, to be buried by strangers. 

7. William h'lFi:, of measles, June 4, 1863, at Carrollton, 
La. Unknown grave in Chalmette. 

8. James G. Morrison, age 29, killed in action at Port 
Hudson, La., May 27, 1863. He rests with the unknown in 
the Lhiited States Military Cemetery at Port Hudson, near 
the place where he fell. He received the fatal shot through 
the centre of the forehead, and must have expired in a \'ery few 
moments after. He was conscious, however, as he requested 
a New York bo}' who was near him to hand his watch 
and pocket-book to his comrade, McGregor, that the}- might 
be sent home to his wife. Sergeants J. J. l^urle}- and 
William H. Philbrook disco\'ered his body on the day after 
the battle and brought it off the field. It was buried by dim 
moonlight, side by side with four others, one of which was 
that of Noah Chattle. A ten-inch shell was placed at his head 
to distinguish his body. Sergeant F'ernando Parker, of Com- 
pany P2, was buried near by. The following is a diagrani of the 
spot, copied from the diary of Lieutenant Washington Perkins : 

Parker. 
Tree. lo-inch shell buried at head. 



Tree. 20 feet. + 30 feet. Tn 



26 riii luftccnth Xa^ Havipsliirc I 'olniitccrs. 

V\\\\ copy of menioraiidum of J. G. Morrison. Memoran- 
dum contained a sprig- of leaves from the tree under which 
he was buried. On fly leaf, James G. Morrison, 1 5 Rei(. 
N. H. v., Co. H. 

Thursday, January 22, 1863. Go to New Orleans. This 
written in Jackson square under a banana tree. Roses in 
bloom and ver\' warm. 

Friday, 2},. Mo\e cook house ; very warm. 

Saturday, 24. Fair and warm. 

Sunda}-, 25. Warm. 

Monda\', 26. Go to New Orleans to bu_\' provisions. 

Tuesday, 27. Rainy. 

Wednesday, 28. Moved to Camp Parapet. 

Sunday, February 1. Fair. 

Wednesday, February 4. Go to New Orleans with John 
S. Sanborn. Go to varieties theatre. 

Sunda}-, Aj^ril 12. Had new potatoes at Carrollton, La. 

Thursday, May 7. On ij^uard. 

Saturday, May 9. (jo to New Orleans with Dow's brigade. 
George F. Bowers died. 

Sunday, May 10. (ieorge 1^\ Bowers buried. 

Tuesday, May 12. On guard. 

Thursday, May 14. Bet one t|uart of wliiskey with S. 
Shannon that we are here in si.x weeks. 

Frida}-, Ma)- 15. ( )n guard. 

Tuesday, May 19. On guard. 

Wednesday, May 20. Go on board boat for Tort Hudson. 

Thursday, May 21. Go to l^aton Rouge. Xo dinner or 
suj^lK-r. 

l-'riday, May 22. Land fifteen miles above Baton Rouge; 
march ten miles, no breakfast, dinner oi" supjier ; sleep on 
arms. 

Saturday. Ma\ 23. .\o breakfast. .March two hours. 
Dinner of \xm\\ tack. I!ncanip in woods. Rebel batteries 
one iiiile off. Rain\- niglit. .Slee]) on ai'nis. 



Roll of the Dead. 2/ 

Sunday, May 24. Alove camp within one-half mile of 
rebels. Form line of battle. Sleep ow arms. Pickets firini;- 
all night. Close to rebel rifle pits. 

Monday, May 25. Change line of battle to lelt. (io on 
picket at night. Battery forty rods off throwing shells at 
rebs. They reply. Shot and shell fl}'ing all night. 

Tuesday, May 26. On picket. Firing at inter\als by 
both parties. Called in at night. Sleep on arms. 

Wednesday, May 27. Cicneral engagement by our division 
along the lines. 

Note. — Thi.s last entry must liuve heen made in battle, and just 
before his death. 

Comrade M. L. Moore spent all the next da\' carving 
Morrison's name, company, regiment, town and state, and 
age on a headboard to mark his grave. 

9. JoHX F. Pkesi'ox, age 35, was discharged fur disabilit}- 
May 16, 1863, and set out for hiMiie by sea ; but d}ing when 
three days out, received a sailor's burial, and his bod\' was 
cast into the gulf stream in the vicinity of the l^ahamas. 
Lieutenant Seavey accompanied him to New ( )i-leans and 
assisted him aboard the steamer. 

10. William J. Pond, age 40, 
of measles, at Baton Rouge, La., 
June 20, 1863. He lies there 
in the National Cemetery, grave 
No. 2,452. 

11. Jonx B. SiiuTE, age 20, 
of fever, February 13, 1863, at 
Carrollton, La. This was the 
first death in the company. 
Buried in the cemetery, just 
back of Camp Mansfield, at Car- 
rollton. Plxhumed by Captain 
Sanborn, and sent home to his 
father. Remains now rest in 
the cemetery, near (iaza, in 
Sanbornton. 




28 'Flic l-'iftccnth Xcik' Havipshirc ]'oliintccrs. 

12. Charles H. Saxudkn, age 19, of fever. Went to 
hospital May 20, 1863, the same day the regiment embarked 
for the siege of Port Hudson. Died on the twenty-fifth, at 
Carrolhon, La. Chahnette National Military Cemetery, 
unknown. Remo\'ed b}' the gox'ernment from the cemeter\' 
back of the Carrollton cam}). This must ha\e been the same 
cemetery where John B. Shute was buried. 

13. Georc;e W. Webster, age 19, of disease, June i, 
1863, at Carrollton, La. Chalmette, gra\-e unknown. 

14. Harlax p. Saxhorx, age 29, of disease, August 10, 
1863, at Sanbornton, N. H. Sanbornton Road Cemetery, 
Tilton, N. H. He participated in the siege of Port Hudson, 
but before the surrender was sent back to the Carrollton 
camp sick. 

15. JoHX H. S.\xiu)KX, age 19, wounded in left thigii Ala}' 
27, 1863, at Port Hudson, La. Died of wounds June 2, 
1863, at New Orleans, La. His remains rejiose in Chal- 
mette, grave No. 1,984. Disinterred from C}i:>rus Grove. 

CoMPAXv I — 12 Deaths. 

1. SvLVESTEK P. Wallace, age 20, wounded at Port 
Hudson, La., June 13, 1863, while adxancing with skirmish 
line. Died of his wounds June 15, 1863, at Port Hudson. 
Port Hudson National Militar^• Cemeterv, unknown. 

2. Joiix H. Roiu'.Ris, age 22. of disease, at Concord, 
X. II., August 13, 1863, the da}- of the nuister out. Buried 
in Rochester, N. H., in the Rocliester Cemetery, four miles 
above the cit}'. 

3. GiDi'.ox C.\R'n:K, age 44, of fe\er, at regimental hospi- 
tal, Carrollton, La., Ai)ril 16, 1863. at 5.14 a. >l Bod}' sent 
home to l^xeter on the ^\■^\ of his deatli. Buried in Old 
Cemetery. 

4. JoHX C. Garlaxd, age 27, of climatic fever, at regi- 
mental hospital, Carrollton, La., April 16, 1863. at 12 >l 
Remains were sent home the next ihw. and were buried in 



Roll of the Dead. 29 

the Old Cemetery at Rochester, X. H. Disinterred and 
removed to the new North Side Cemetery, Roclicster, where 
they now repose. 

5. John D. Lampkev, age 19, killed at I'ort Hudson, La., 
in the battle of May 27, 1863. Buried on the battle-ticld ; 
disinterred and removed to Port Hud.son National Military 
Cemetery, grave unknown. 

6. Abxer Morse, age 21, killed in battle of May 27, 
1863, at Port Hudson, La. Buried on the field ; disinterred 
and removed to Port Hudson National xMilitary Cemetery, 
gra\'e unknown. 

7. Solomon N. Newlands, age 20, mortally wounded 
May 27, 1863, at Port Hudson, La., and sent to hospital at 
Baton Rouge, where he died July 4, 1863. I^aton Rouge 
National Military Cemetery, grave No. 1,469. 

8. William Nudd, age 44, of disease, at Exeter, N. H., 
August 9, 1863. 

9. George M. Swaix, age 23, mortally wounded May 27, 
1863, at Port Hudson, La., and died August 4, 1863, at 
Baton Rouge, La., where his remains repose in the National 
Cemetery among the unknown. 

10. John J. Smith, age 18, left sick at Memphis, Tenn., 
July 31, 1863, while on the passage home, where he died 
September 2, 1863, and where he now reposes in the 
National Military Cemetery, grave No. 4,095. Was taken 
sick after the close of the siege. 

11. Wentworth Willev, age 25, was left behind sick at 
Memphis, Tenn., July 31, 1863, while en route for home, 
where he died August 3, 1863. He is one of the unknown 
in the Military Cemetery of that city. Was taken sick just 
as he embarked. 

12. George V . Young, age 20 — was through all the battles 
of Port Hudson — of disease, on board steamer " City of Madi- 
son," July 28, 1863, opposite Vicksburg, while on the passage 
home. He was rolled in his blanket and buried without coffin. 



30 The Fiftccntli Xci^' Hamf^shirc 1 ''oluntccrs. 

Company K — i6 Deaths. 

1. Hexrv N. l^Kowx, age i8, of disease, at Mouiul Cit}-. 
111., August 3, 1863, wlierc he was left in hospital while en 
route home. 

2. Milton S. I^kown, age 18, of fever, at Port Hudson. 
La., July 5, 1863. 

3. Isaac X. Clolc.h. age 23, of disease August 2, 1863. 
at Memphis, Tenn., where he was left in hospital while en 
route for home. 

4. John S. Currier, age 19. of malarial fever, at Port 
Hudson, La.. Jul}- 2, 1863. 

5. Moses Griefin, age 37. of disease, at Danville, X. H.. 
August 19, 1863. 

6. P'ranklin p. Ireson, age 27, of fe\er, August 19. 
1863, at Buffalo, X. Y., where he was left sick while on the 
way home. Soldiers' lot. Poorest Lawn Cemetery. Buffalo. 
X. Y. 

7. \\'iLLi.\M H. Johnson, age 19. of fe\er, Juh' 31. 1863. 
at two o'clock in the afternoon, on the river steamer, "City 
of Madison," near Memphis, 'Penn. 

8. P^DWiN D. Kellev, age 18, killed by the enemy's 
sharpshooters June 11, 1863, at Port Pludson, La. Shot 
through the neck and spine. L'nited States Xational Militai-_\' 
Cemeter)-, Port Hudson, La., grave Xo. 3,610. 

9. Mi:iA IN Low 1:1.1., age 23, of disease, August 22, 1863, 
at Salem, X. 11. 

10. \\'iLLi.\M P\ Mansf-iei.I), agc 18, of fever, at 10.30 
p. M., March 26, 1863, in hosjjital at CarroUton, La. His 
remains were sent home for burial. 

I I. Danii;i, Maksion, age 32, of fe\er, at CarroUton. La., 
June 7, 1863. 

12. Cii-.oRoi". AP D. Mi'.ADi:, age 18, of fe\er, August 15, 
1863, at Memphis, 'Penn.. where he was one of thirt\- sick 



Roll of the Dead. 3 1 

put ashore from the steamer "City of Madison," on its 
passage up the river and left behind. United States National 
Military Cemetery, Memphis, Tenn., grave No. 4,084. 

13. Iddo K. Morrison, age 35, of disease, August 14, 
1863, at Concord, N. H. 

14. Edwin B. Mosher, age 44. Detailed at Port Hudson 
as sharpshooter, June 14, 1863, at the opening of the battle 
of that date, and never seen nor heard from afterward. 
Undoubtedly killed and buried by strangers with the dead on 
the battle-field, lliese dead have all been gathered up by 
the government, and interred in the United States I\Iilitar\- 
Cemetery, near the place where he fell. 

15. Alha Noyes, age 22, of fever, July 24. 1863, at 
Port Hudson, La. Port Hudson Militar)' Cemetery, gra\e 
No. 3,035. 

16. William L. Stanton, age 20, of fever, August 10, 
1863, at Buffalo, N. Y., where he was left behind sick while 
en route home. Soldiers" lot, Forest Lawn Cemeter)-, 
Buffalo, N. Y. 



32 The Fifteenth Xcie Hampshire I 'oluittccn 

Total deaths, 1S3 ; of these there cliecl in — 

New Hampshire . 

I'ort Hudson, La. 

Carrollton, La. 

Memphis, Tenn. . 

Baton Roui;e, La. 

Steamer "City of Madison " 

New Orleans, La. 

Camp Paraj^et, La. 

Buffalo, X. V. 

Mound City, 111. . 

Chicago, 111. 

Cleveland, (). 

Xew York City . 

Townsend, Mass. . 

I^den, W. . 

Cairo, 111. . 

Dimkirk, Penn. 

At sea 



41 

34 

32 

19 

15 

9 

8 

6 

6 

4 



Uate. 

)r immediateh' after reaehin; 



Two died, not haxini;- left the 

l'j,^ht\-si.\ died en route home 
home. 

( )f 30 left at Memphis, 19 died. 

\'er\' man\- died later of disease and wounds, of which we 
make no account. 



Roll of the Dead. 33 

Memorial and Executive Committee, 
Grand Army of the Republic 
Of the City of Buffalo, 

Department of New York, 

Buffalo, N. Y.. July 25, 1S98. 

Mr. Charles McGregor, 

Historian Fifteenth N'. H. I'o/s., 
Nashua, N. H. 

Ih'ar Comrade: Your communication in regard to tiie burial of the 
remains of the Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteers who died in Bulfalo 
during the war, has been referred to me for reply. 

I am glad to state that I believe the remains are buried in our soldiers' 
lot at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The records show that in grave No. 13 
there are ])uried the remains of seven soldiers, names unknown, who died 
while in the hospitals in Buffalo during the war, and in grave No. 14 the 
remains of four soldiers, names unknown, who died under the same cir- 
cumstances. They were removed from the pulilic cemetery when we 
obtained possession of our lot at Forest Lawn, and are doubtless the 
remains of your regiment, as we have no records of any others who are 
buried in our lot whose names are unknown ; and the}- are duly honored 
every Memorial Day. 

Yours truly, 

James W. Chatman. 

Srirfta>y. 

All the dead who were left in southern lands have l^een 
leathered up and laid in the nearest military cemetery. 

Thp: Chalmette Military Cemetery. 

Interments: Known, 6,962; unknown, 5,742; total, 
12,704. This cemetery is located near New Orleans, on 
General Jackson's old battle-field. 

The Baton Rouge Military Cemetery. 
Interments: Known, 2,512 ; unknown, 532 ; total, 3,044. 



34 'Hi^' Fifteenth Nci^ ILmnps/Nir I 'olnntccrs. 

Till". Port Hunsox Mii.rr.\K\ C"i:.Mi:ri:K\'. 

Interments : Known, 594 ; unknown, 3,239 ; total, 3,833. 
The unknown here outnumber the known nearl}' six times. 

The Memimh.s Miutakv Cf.mktkkv. 

Interments: Known, 5,174; unknown, 8,.S20 ; total, 
13.994- 

MOUX!) CiTV MlLITAR\' Ci:M i: Tl'.KN . 

Interments: Known, 2,508 ; unknown, 2,763 ; total, 5,271. 

ViCKSPAiRG Mii.nAKv Ckmetkrv. 

Interments: Known, 3,944; unknown, 12,721 ; total, 
16,665. 

These military cemeteries arc established and maintained 
by a grateful government. They arc surrounded by strong- 
walls with massive gates at the entrances, and are each in 
charge of a superintendent whose residence is within the 
enclosure. They are places of great beauty and sanctity. 
Visitors instinctix'cly uncover here, and move al:)out in silence. 
They are adorned witli shade trees ; the graves are not 
mounded ; the long lines of white heatlstones stand in the 
softest of green grass; the flag, for which they fell who now 
sleep so quietly beneath, is raised above them each morn at 
sunrise and lowered at sunset forever. 

" On Fame'.s eternal camping-<i;round 
Their silent tents are .spread. 
And Glory ^lards, with ceaseless round. 
The bivouac of the dead." 



Roll of the Dead. 35 

Killed ok Dild oi- Wol xds. 
A, D, E, and K were not in the chari;ing column of May 2"] . 

Company A — Noah M. W'eeks^i. 

Company B — Benjamin F. Adams, T. A. Barstow, Byron 
Elliott, J. B. Penniman, H. D. Powers, C. H. Willey — 6. 

Company C — David Batchelder, Charles B. I-:ia, J. C. 
Fuller, Isaac Smith — 4. 

Company D — Jonathan H. Johnson, J. O. Langley — 2. 

Company E — Fernando Parker — i. 

Company Y — Edwin D. Aldrich, Geo. H. Butler, William 
W. Dustin, P:iias H. Hadley, James \\. Full — 5. 

Company G — John Cate, Samuel G. Eovering- — 2. 

Company H— J. H. D. Blaisdell, Noah Chattle, J. (i. 
Morrison, J. H. Sanborn — 4. 

Company I — S. B. Wallace, J. D. Fampre}^ Abner Morse, 
S. N. Newlands, George M. Swain — 5. 

Company K — E. D. Kelley, \\. B. Mosher — 2. 



rite l-'iftccntli Xcic Havipshiir I 'oluntccrs. 
COMPARATIVE LOSSES. 



Second Infantry 2,555 

Third Infantry i .769 

Fourth Infantry ''759 

Eifth Infantry 2,562 

Sixth Infantry 2.448 

Seventh Infantry i ,762 

Eighth Infantry i .603 

Ninth Infantry i .876 

Tenth Infantry 1-333 

Eleventh Infantry ••'^55 

Twelfth Infantry i ,463 

Thirteenth Infantr\ i .272 

Fourteenth Infantry 1 .386 

Fifteentli Infantry 904 

Sixteenth Infantry 914 

Eighteenth Infantry 978 

First New England \'ol. Cavalry. . . . 435 

First New Hampshire \'ol. Cavalry.. 1,533 

First New Hampshire Light Batterv. 258 

First LI. S. Sharpshooters, Co. E... 116 

Second LI. S. Sharpshooters, Co. F. iio 

Second U. S. Sharpshooters, Co. (i. 125 




verv nearly i \_ tnnt 

over i{ 

\er\' nearl\' i I, 

nearly 1 'j 

over I i 

over I L 

over I 1 



the 



the Secim 
FourtI 
Fifth. 
Sixth. 
Tenth 



'I'hirteentl 
{•■(lurteent 



Roll of the Dead. 37 

These losses are copied from the Adjutants ieneral's rei)ort, 
except those of the Fifteenth Rei;iment. whicli are computed 
from its history. They show that the short term h'ifteenth 
Regiment suffered a greater loss from death than any one of 
the three years' regiments except the Seventh, Eighth, 
Ninth, and Twelfth, all of which were about equal. Com- 
pared by length of service, the}- a\erage nearly four times 
those of the long term regiments. The Sixteenth suffered a 
greater loss during its short term than any other New 
Hampshire regiment or organization, and both these far 
exceed that of the Fifth, which is credited with a greater 
loss in killed than any infantry regiment during the war. 
It is four and one-fourth times the loss of the V'w^X 
New Hampshire Light l^atter)'. It is more than two and 
one-half times that of the First New England Cavalry, 
and nearly two and one-half times that of the r^irst New 
Hampshire Cavalry. The Sharpshooters losses average a 
little below those of the Fifteenth, although the term of all 
these was four times as great. These comparisons are not 
made in any invidious spirit, but simply that credit ma}' fall 
where it rightl)' should. Exact historical truth is the end 
aimed at, and no greater wrong could be done than credit 
any with honor or merit not fairly earned and justl}' due. 
The wounded and disabled would show a like disparit)-. 

It should be remembered that, of those mustered out, 
nearly all who were fit returned to the front and shared in 
the hardships and dangers of the war to the end — that 
many others incurred wounds and death ; and some of our 
wounded, and many of our diseased, survived for years and 
then succumbed, as the unfortunate Rewitzer, of Compan}- I, 
whose wounds never healed. 

NoTK. — It ha.s been claimed that companies A. 15. C and K, were 
rai.sed for the Seventeenth Regiment, but dates siiow tliat these companies 
were in the Fifteenth Regiment camp several da\s prior to the call for 
recruits for the Seventeenth, which call was dated at Lancaster, October 
18. 1862. The men of Company C. except eight, were all enlisted in 
September, and all of F, except nine, in September or prior. 



The Fiftccuth Xci^< HavipsJiirc J 'olimtccrs. 
THOMAS C()GSW1<:LL. 



Thomas Cociswell, at the time of his enlistment, was a 
member of the senior class in Dartmouth College, and his age 
was twenty-one. After his discharge from service, and he 
had sulficientl}' reco\ered liis health, he commenced the study 
of law, and was admitted to the Belknap bar in September, 
1866. Began the practice of his profession in Gilmanton, 
where he has since remained. He has been honored by his 
political party in a high degree. In turn he has been super- 
intending school committee, selectman, representative 187 1-2, 
and 1899, candidate for speaker of the house in 1872, senator 
in 1878, candidate for councillor and governor in 1886, was 
ai")pointed railroad commissioner, and from Jul)' 1, 1894, to 
Jul}' I, 1898, was United States pension agent at Concord, 
\. H. Was appointed aide on the staff of Governor Weston, 
early became a member of the G. A. R., and in 1890 was 
Commander of tlie Department of New Hampshire. He is 
a member of the Loyal Legion Commandery of Massachu- 
setts, a h'ree Mason, and a member of the (jrange. Captain 
Cogswell owns and carries on one of the largest and most 
productive farms in Belkna]) county, and has always been 
greatlv interested in agriculture. 



Ro// and Skt'tch of Coiuf-any A. 



39 




CAPTAIN ALDRICH. 





CAl'TAlX CU(;S\VKI. 



I.IECTKN'ANT in;NDLi:V. 



40 The Fifteenth Xew Hampshire ]\iliiuteers. 

ROLL AND rRia.IAIIXARV SKICTCH OF 
COMPANY A. 



This compan}' was composed of thirty-six men trom (iiliord, 
now Lakeport : 

John Aldrich, captain, ai;e }^'^ ; ])romoted major .April 8, 
1S63 ; wounded May 27, 1863. 

Charles W. Pickerini;', first seri^eant, ai^e 29 ; mustered as 
second lieutenant Ajiril 8, 1863 ; wounded in lei;-, slightly. 
May 29, 1863, while on the picket line. 

James T. Gordon, third sergeant, age 29 ; designated right 
general guide December 4, 1862. 

Josiah S. Piper, first corporal, age }f6. 

Lewis D. Badger, second corporal, age ^^i. 

John C. l^lake, sixth corj^oral, age 28 ; detailed in contra- 
band dej)artment Ajiril 30, 1863. 

Charles V. Swain, seventh corporal, age 35. 

l^arnet H. Ames, age 18 ; wounded June 14, 1863 ; slight. 

Aaron C. Badger, age 42 ; detailed cook at hospital Decem- 
ber 4, 1862. 

Pklwin A. Badger, age 18. 

Lewis S. Bean, age 18; detailed clerk in commissarN' 
department October 30, 1862; had served in that capacity 
since October 4. 

Levi l^lake, age 30 ; delailetl in contraband department 
April 30, 1 863. 

James W. l^lake, age 21 ; detailed .Signal Corps Xo\ember 
22, 1862; was ca[itured at .Sjn-ingtield Landing Jul\' 2. and 
parolled. 

Samuel L. Blaisdell, age 36. 

Albert S. Buzzell, age 24. 

DeWitt Clinton, age 44. 

Charles P. Davis, age 40. 



Roll and Sketch of Couifaiiy A. 41 

Nathan S. Da\-is, age 38. 

llionias S. Davis, age 36. 

Isaac L. Foss, age 23; detailed J^\'bruan- 23, 1863. as 
express rider, to ride between Carrollton and New Orleans. 

Ezekiel Oilman, age 39. 

Otis W. Oilman, age "19" (was only 16 )ears of age); 
detailed with Fourth Massachusetts Battery, Februar)- 2"] , 
1863. 

Nathaniel M. Oray, age 30. 

Oeorge T. Jackson, age 30. 

David O. Lee, age 18 ; detailed as messenger Januar\- 15, 
1863. 

lulward M. Lee, age 20. 

Augustus Merrill, age 34 ; detailed as chief wagoner of 
regiment December 27, 1862 ; returned to company Januar)- 
17, 1863 ; February 7, assigned to duty in band. 

Comford Merrill, age i},. 

Winfield Morrill, age 21. 

Joseph D. Moulton, age 24. 

Moses Page, age 44. 

Adam Pomfrey, age 35. 

Alonzo F'. Taylor, age 25. 

Andrew P. Wadleigh, age 29 ; his father, still li\ing in 
January, 1899, was a Revolutionary soldier's son; wounded 
June 13, 1863, on skirmish line. 

Orrin V . Wheeler, age 19. 

Noah M. Weeks, age 34. 

Thirty-four from (lilmanton and U[)ix'r (lilmanton : 

Thomas Cogswell, Jr., first lieutenant, age 21 ; promoted 
captain April 8, 1863, vice Captain Aldrich promoted major. 
Silas W. Leavitt, second sergeant, age 18. 
Ira A. Hill, fourth sergeant, age 20. 
John P. Flussev, fifth sergeant, age 31. 



42 '/"//(• Fiftcottli Xcw llivuf'slnrc \'olunlccrs. 

Ilarlan P. (iilman, third corporal, age 23. 

.\nscl !■". \'ouni;-, fourth cor])oral, ai^e 21. 

Xathanicl \'ouni;-, fifth corporal, age 38. 

Charles A. Young, eighth corporal, age 27. 

John (). (irant, musician, age 25. 

William H. Adams, age 27. 

George W. Batchelder, age 20 ; detailed as orderl}' at 
telegraph office at Carrollton, La., March 13, 1863 ; wounded 
June I 3, 1863, in hand. 

Charles A. Bryant, age 18. 

Charles E. Clay, age 21 ; discharged for disabilit)' February 
26, 1863. 

John O. Cotton, age 27 ; discharged for disability March 
7, 1863. 

George A. Gale, age 25. 

Jacob S. Heath, age 36. 

Sidney C. Hill, age 19. 

Alfred C. Jacobs, age 41. 

Jason J. Ladd, age 23. 

.Smith D. Lougee, age 18. 

Charles 1^. McCartney, age 23. 

Thomas W. Merrill, age 27. 

Charles Pinkham, age 43. 

John C. Randlett, age 32. 

Charles H. Robey, age 38. 

Lorain T. Shannon, age 44. 

Jonathan Sleeper, age 44. 

.Stc])hen V. Weeks, age 35. 

George R. Wildes, age 18. 

Jacob Willard, age44. 

John P. \'oung, age 19. 

John W. \'oung, age 19. When the regiment left C"arroll- 
ton for Port Hudson on May 20, \'oung was left behind sick 
with a fe\-er in hospital ; the interval is an entire blank. lie 



Roll and Sketch of Company A. 43 

was a \ery lari;c man, and was reducccl to a mere anatomy, 
weighing- only one hundred pounds on his return. 

Leonard Weeks, age 28 ; wounded May 29, through hoot 
and toe. 

George C. Allen, age 21. 

Twenty-four from Alton : 

John B. Hendley, second lieutenant, age t^O ; promoted 
first lieutenant May 8, 1863, vice Cogswell promoted captain. 

Benjamin A. Ricker, age 35 ; detailed wagoner Decemher 
27, 1862. 

Stephen L. Batchelder, age 4 1 . 

Charles H. Bickford, age 42. 

David T. Brooks, age 36. 

Lewas D. Collins, age 28. 

Benjamin Ellis, age 22 ; shot through hand June 13, 1863. 

Jacob 1-^llis, Jr., age 35. 

Aaron 1^'arnham, age 38. 

David B. Foss, age 25. 

Irad B. Gilman, age 18. 

Levi Gilman, age 44. 

Manoah G. W. Gilman, age 40. 

Jason Mclntire, age 44. 

Abner W. Morse, age 26. 

Isaiah Piper, age 44. 

Samuel L. Randall, age 26. 

Arthur S. Sawyer, age 30. 

John K. Tarbell, age 36 ; wounded in shoulder June 14, 
1863. 

William S. Watson, age 20. 

David S. Willey, age 24 ; severely wounded in leg June 13, 
1863. 

George \V. Young, age 33. 

Alfred Garland, age 43. 

John J. Hayes, age 18. 



44 ^li^' I' if ti Lilt// Xii^' Havipshiir I'oluiitccrs. 

Tlirec from I.aconia : 
Albert S. Buzzell, age 24. 
Royal Boynton, age 44. 

Simeon Ste\"ens, age 43 ; wounded Jime 14, 1S63, in hand. 

One from Enfield : 

Lewis Blake, musician, age 43. 

One from Haxerhill : 
Caleb Knight, age 40. 

One from Thornton : 

Charles M. Bagle}-, age 18; wounded ver}- se\erel}- June 
13, 1863 ; sliot through hips; rec(n-ered and returned to dut\- 
in six weeks. 

One hundred of^cers and men all told. Of these two 
deserted, Cieorge C. Allen, at Concord, October 30, 1862 ; 
was apprehended and assigned to Company G, Eighth New 
Hampshire Volunteers, June 20, 1864, to serve out his term ; 
he was dischargetl therefrom Januar)- 18, 1865 ; and Leonard 
Weeks, at Camp X. P. l^anks, Long Island, near l^rooklyn, 
N. v., November 22, 1862, but returned to duty xoluntarily 
LY^bruar)- 9, 1863, and redeemed his hono)- 1)}' faithful ser\ice, 
and was mustered out with the regiment August 13, 1863. 
Weeks was but a few days absent from the ranks, and under 
circumstances such that it is deemed best no disgrace attach 
to his record on that account, and he will according!)' be 
treated in these i)ages as thougli no lajise occurred. 

Two were transferred to Compan\- !•" by order of Adjutant- 
General Colby, November 12, 1862. and their record will 
there appear. One, Orrin !•'. Wheeler, was stricken with 
diphtheria at the Concord camp, Xoxember 2, 1862, and was 
removed to his home at (iilford on tlie following day. where 
he died November 22, 1862, not having left the state. This 
was the first death in the rei'iment. 



Roll and Ski ■tc/i of Covipanv A. 4c 

Levi Blake was detailed October 30, 1S62, as clerk in tlic 
commissary department, and served as sucli up to the follow- 
ing March, when he was transferred to the contraband 
department under Colonel Hanks, and served there through 
the rest of the term. He was discharged in New Orleans 
August 7, 1863, not returning with the regiment. 

There was much rivalry among the companies as to which 
should reach camp first, and also as to which should rank as 
No. I and head the line. This company went into camp, 
altogether, on ()ctober 2. A few^ went by team, but the 
most of them by rail, taking the cars principally at (iilford, 
now Lakeport. It was arranged that the Gilford squad 
should name the captain, John Aldrich ; the Gilmanton boys 
the first lieutenant, Thomas Cogswell ; and the Alton boys 
the second lieutenant, John B. Hendley. They immediately 
organized and held their election. They were the first 
company on the ground, although the men that afterwards 
constituted Company B arrived at Concord on the same train. 
Mr. Aldrich, in passing, procured blank muster rolls from 
Captain Holmes in Concord, made out his roll, and appeared 
with it first before the mustering of^cial, and assumed the 
letter A. Before lea\-ing for camp an elegant sword was 
presented to Mr. Aldrich by his Masonic brothers and tlie 
citizens of Gilford and Laconia, with public ceremonies in 
Belknap Hall, Mr. Aldrich res])()nding to the presentation 
remarks. 

Lieutenant Hendley afterwards became the regimental 
quartermaster, upon the advancement (jf Quartermaster 
Moody, as will appear. 

After going into camp at Concord, an elegant sword was 
presented to Lieutenant Cogswell b)- his company and with 
the usual ceremonies. This sword, as also that of Captain 
Aldrich, was injured by missiles from the enemy at the front, 
as will appear. 



46 The hlfticnth Xcw Hampshire \'oInntCLrs. 

While at this camp the company held a grand tnmt dinner, 
the fish being caught in Lake Winnipesaukee b}' Lieutenant 
Pickering, Sergeant Gordon, Corporal Blake, and others, and 
prepared by " Zeke " Oilman. Other officers were invited. 
The times were bustling, and the da}'s passed rapidl}- awa)-. 



Roll and Sketch of Coinpanv H. 47 

CAIT. JOHN B. ELA. 



Extract from thk " Benxh and Bar" oi' Illinois. 

"Attracted by the West, Mr. Ela came to Chicai^o, and 
has for more than a quarter of a century been a member of 
the bar of this city and one of the prominent and successful 
lawyers of the state. He framed the Illinois ci\ il service 
law, the first law of that character passed by a western state, 
and was at the head of the mo\ement which resulted in its 
passage by the legislature and its adoption b}- the citv of 
Chicago. When he drafted the bill Mr. Ela was president of 
the Chicago Civil Service Reform Association, and was an 
earnest and active worker in the organization of which he 
was at the head. He has for some years been an active 
member of the executive committee of the National Cix'il 
Service Reform Eeague, of which league George William 
Curtis was one of the founders and the first })resident, and of 
which Carl Schurz is now president. 

" Mr. Ela was counsel for the Civil Service Commission 
before the supreme court, in the suit to test the constitution- 
ality of the Illinois civil service, and was also counsel for the 
commission in the suit against the Board of lulucation of 
Chicago in the supreme court, in which suit that l:)oard was 
compelled to come under the civil service law. He was also 
counsel for the commission in several mandamus cases in the 
supreme court, among others the test case which brought all 
the places of employment in the offices of city collector, city 
clerk, city treasurer, and city comptroller under the proxisions 
of the act. 

" Mr. Ela was president of the Police Commission appointed 
by Mayor Hopkins, in 1894, to put the Chicago Police 
Department under the merit system, which commission made 
the first application of the reform in Chicago, and ga\-e the 
people an object lesson as to its benefits. 



48 The I'iftcciitli Xcw Hampshire W^limtccrs. 

" Among the other matters of a public nature in which Mr. 
l-Ha has been counsel, may be menti(Mietl his appointment b)' 
Governor Altgeld to assist in the defence of the state, in the 
su]3reme court, in the combined attack upon the constitution- 
alit)' of the state factor}' law, inxohini;- the c|uestion, among 
others, of the \alidit}- of the provision establishing an 'eight- 
hour day' for women. In 1H95 he was employed by the 
Chicago riuus-llcrald to go to Springfield as its counsel, and 
render opinions on pr()i:)osed laws pending in the legislature. 
There was considerable excitement during that session o\er 
the veto, by Go\'ern()r Altgeld, <jf se\eral bills faxxjring certain 
classes or corporations, claimed to haxe been passed by 
corrupt means, and the efforts of their friends to i:)ass them 
over the veto and over other supposed corrupt bills still 
pending. The Tiiucs-Hcrald emj)loyed Mr. I-Ja to go to 
Springfield to examine the x'etoed bills and all proposed 
measures which could affect the public, and gi\e his unbiased 
ojMnion ujjon such measures and their effect if they should 
become laws. These opinions were published in that journal 
from time to time until the close of the session. It was a 
session noted as a 'record breaker' in. alleged attempts to 
accomplish corrupt legislation. As to the results of the 
efforts of Mr. bJa and the Tiiucs-Hirald, it is onh' fair to 
say that, notwithstanding the e\traordinar_\- acti\it_\ of the 
friends of the vetoed bills (which were all op]«>sed by these 
opinions and by the paper), not one of them was passed over 
the veto, and scarcely one of the measures denounced in the 
o])inions and the |)aper has yet become a law. 'I'here was 
considerable indignation expressed b_\- some of the legislators, 
at first, on the assumption that Mr. hda came there to watch 
oxer them ; but as the character of his serxice.-- de\elojieil, 
there was general c-onunendatiDU of the work he was accom- 
plishing. 



Roll and Sketch of Couipaiiy />'. 49 

"While a Democrat in national politics, Mr. Mia has always 
opposed carryin;; politics into local elections. He has actively 
supported every 'citizens' movement' in city elections in 
Chicago. He has been a member of the executive committee 
of the Civic Federation and its vice-president ; was chairman 
of the committee which prosecuted the election frauds ; \ice- 
president of the Arm)' and Navy League, which did such 
effectix'C work in assisting Chicago soldiers and theii" families 
during the war with Spain, and has been president of the 
Chicago Philosophical Society." 



50 The Fifteenth Xci^' Hampshire W^lunteers. 




AI.VIN lUKI.KIGH. 



From " Nkw Hampshire Men." 



*' Hon. Al\'in BiKi.i'.K.ii was Ijorn in Plymouth. December 
19, 1842. He secured his education at lN.iml)all L'nion 
Academy, Meriden, and at Dartmouth Collci^e, whence he 
was graduated in 1871. The year toUowini;- his graduation 
he was principal of tlie Woodstock ( W.) High School, and 
then entered upon the study of law with Hon. Henry \V. 
Blair at Plymouth, and was admitted to the bar in November, 
1874. He formed a partnership witli Mr. l^lair. wliich 
existed from 1875 to 1879, when Mr. Hlair was chosen to the 



Roll and SkctcJi of C oinpany B. 5 1 

United States Senate ; and since then has been associated 
with George H. Adams, under the firm name of Burleigh & 
Adams, practicing in the state and United States courts. In 
1887 he was speaker of the New Hampshire House of 
Representatives, and filled that arduous position during the 
long and trying session of that year with remarkable fidelit\- 
and impartiality. For several years he has been president of 
the Plymouth School Board, is a trustee of the xMethoclist 
Church in Plymouth, of the Plymouth Guarant}' Sa\"ings 
Bank, and of the State Normal School. When a boy Mr. 
Burleigh learned the tanner's trade, and from the age of 
fifteen has supported and educated himself. He forsook the 
tanner's bench in 1862 to enlist in Company B of the 
P^ifteenth New Hampshire Regiment, and served until it was 
disbanded, being one of the four children descended from a 
Revolutionary grandfather, who fought in the Rebellion. 
Mr. Burleigh is a member of the Grand Army, has been the 
commander of the Penniman Post, twice judge adxocate of 
the Department of New Hampshire, and a member of the 
national staff. Mr. Burleigh is one of the most reliable of 
men. He has been called as counsel in some of the most noted 
cases that grace the records of the bar, and as an advocate, 
as well as a counsellor, his fame is secure. A large practice 
attests his success, but above all that rests the knowledge of 
the confidence of those who know him, a dearer and sweeter 
reward than can come from anv measure of honor." 



52 



The I'iftccntli Xcw Hampshire I 'olimtccrs. 




^ 





CAPTAIN KI,A — Co. H. 



LIEUTENANT WYATT — Co. 





LIEUTENANT WVATT— Co. I! 



LiHrTi-:N.\.\ 1 v\ .1. 



Roll aud Sketch of Coiii/aiiv />. 5 - 

SKETCH OF COMPANY B, UP TO i\"0\ KMJii:R 
12, 1862. 



Caft. Hkxrv W. Bl.vik and Cait. John W. Va..\. 
This company was made up of t\vent}'-six from Haxcrhill : 

John D. Brooks, age 27 ; wounded in head May 27, 1863. 

Neander D. Brooks, age 27. 

James Buckland, age 2 1 ; deserted at Concord, October 
10, 1865. 

Charles Carpenter, age 35. 

Edwin J. E. Clark, age 37 ; wounded in right hand June 
16, 1863. 

Royal Y. Clark, age 23. 

Richard C. Drown, age 32. 

Daniel C. Duncklee, age 25. 

F'ranklin P'erguson, age 30. 

James G. Glynn, age 22. 

Hylas Hackett, age 18. 

John Hackett, age 27. 

Nelson S. Hannaford, age 28. 

Ethan O. Harris, age 23. 

George F. Keyes, age 24. 

Hiram P. Kidder, age 32. 

Aiken Ladderbush, age 39. 

Lewis Ladderbush, age 19. 

George W. Leith, age 41. 

Sylvester W. Marden, age 1 8 ; deserted at Concord, Octo- 
ber 25, 1862. 

James A. Page, second lieutenant, age 26. 

Calvin Pennock, age 29. 

George W. Pennock, fifth sergeant, age 24. 

Charles G. Perkins, age 31 ; first man to die in the enemy's 
country. 



54 The Fifteenth Xei^' Hampshire W^Innteers. 

John C. Shelley, age i8. 
George C. Smith, age 27. 

Sixteen from Plymouth : 
Henry W. l^lair, captain, age 27. 
Alvin Burleigh, age 19. 
Cyrus R. Corliss, fifth corporal, age 25. 
John A. Drake, second sergeant, age 43. 
Simeon Eastman, age 35. 

John W. Ela, first lieutenant, appointed captain, age 24. 
Walter B. Farnum, age 24 ; first man in regiment to receive 
wounds from the enemy. 
Edward E. Ferrin, age 24. 
Frank H. George, age 22. 
Frank C. Green, age 18. 
George K. Jewell, age 25. 
Rockwood G. Merrill, musician, age 2 1 . 
Andrew J. Morgan, age 25. 
Edwin J. Morgan, age 26. 
Justus B. Penniman, age 18. 
Henry Webster, age 22. 

Fifteen from Piermont : 

Eleazor P. Andros, age '},6 ; detailed blacksmith for horse 
and mule shoeing. 

Thomas \. Barstow, fourth sergeant, age i"] . 

Albert A. Bowen, age 19. 

ICdwin O. Bowen, age 18. 

Jonah Camp, age 40. 

l-"rancis Chandler, eighth corporal, age 18. 

George W. Chandler, age 24. 

Hiram 1^. Clark, age }f'j ; severe wound in head May 27, 
1863. 

Absalom Ford, fourth corporal, age 22. 

William Harris, Jr., age 40. 



Roll and Sketch of Cojitpany B. 55 

Edgar H. Lund, age 20. 

Harrison Messer, age 18 ; wounded in hand May 27, 1863. 

Otis B. Rhodes, age n. 

Edgar H. Stevens, age 21. 

Ezra D. Terry, age 28. 

Fifteen from Campton : 

Benjamin F. Adams, age 20. 

Joseph C. Blair, wagoner, age 21. 

Joseph Brown, Jr., age 19. 

Cyrus Burbick, age 30. 

Henry Cook, age ^^^. 

Edwin A. Hart, age 18. 

James F. Merrill, age 28. 

Samuel S. Mitchell, seventh corporal, age 2 i . 

Fred A. Mitchell, second corporal, age n ; wounded in 
arm June 14, 1863 ; appointed sergeant after Ma}' 27. 

William F. Mitchell, age i^. 

George A. Page, age 24. 

George W. Plummer, age 35. 

David Webster, age 27. 

Charles H. Willey, age 25. 

Henry D. Wyatt, first sergeant, age 25 ; aj^pointed first 
lieutenant No\ember 3, 1862 ; severely wounded in left arm 
May 27, 1863. 

Thirteen from Thornton : 

William P. Avery, age 18. 

James O. Bagley, transferred to Company F. 

Harrold D. Bagley, age 23. 

Ezra C. Broad, age 32 ; wounded in head and shoulder 
May 27, 1863. 

Holmes H. Constantine, age i"/ ; band. 

Charles W. Dearborn, sixth C(jrporal, age 28 ; wounded in 
head and shoulder Mav 27, 186;. 



56 The Fiftccntli Xcw Hainpslnir 1 'oliintccrs. 

Ephraim Elliott, age 39. 

George W. Hackett, first corporal, age 26. 

Newton L. Page, age 25. 

Samuel K. Page, age 2 1 . 

Joseph W. Pliimmer, age 30. 

George S. Whitney, third sergeant, age i'}^. 

George D. Rowe, age 18. 

Plight from Groton : 

Henry S. Annis, age 39. Hand. 

Byron P^lliott, age 19; mortally wounded in right side 
May 27. 

Rosalba J. P\)x, age 19. 

Charles \\\ Goodhue, age 18. 

Wilder B. Griffin, age 26. 

Horatio N. Hall, Jr., age 22. 

Robert M. McCluer, first corporal, age 24. 

Harvey I). lV)\vers, age 20 ; fatalh' wounded in leg June 
13, 1863. 

Three from Woodstock : 

Isaac S. Jones, age 27. 
Albert A. JMfield, age 19. 
Henry W. Benton, age 28. 

Three from Orford : 

Edwin N. Berry, age 18. 
Frederick Robinson, age 23. 
Alden Stevens, age 18. 

One from I lel)i"on : 

Josei)h H. Nelson, age 2 1 . 

( )ne from Warren : 

John Kimball, age 20. 



Roll and Sketch of Loinpauy J>. 57 

The compan}' was mustered as above b)- Charles Hohncs. 
of the Seventeenth United States Infantr}', on the ei,L;iitli 
day of October, 1862, with the exception of Royal V. Clark, 
who was mustered on the thirty-first of same month. James 
O. Bagley must have been transferred to Company V, as his 
name is thereafter found there and ceases to apjK-ar on the 
rolls of Company B ; and Henry W. Blair, although mus- 
tered October 8, as captain, it seems had alread}- receixx'd his 
appointment as major on the pre\-ious day. Thus the 
promotion of Captain Blair to the field, and the transference 
of Royal F. Clark to Company F, leaves Company B to 
stand on October 8, at ninety-nine officers and men all i.old. 
Before the promotion of Captain Blair, the officers stood as 
follows : 

Captain, Henr}' W. J-)lair. 
First lieutenant, John W". Fla. 
Second lieutenant, James A. Page. 
First sergeant, Henry D. \\'}-att. 
Second sergeant, John A. Drake. 
Third sergeant, George S. Whitney. 
Fourth sergeant, Thomas A. Barstow. 
Fifth sergeant, George W. Pennock. 
P^irst corporal, George W. Hackett. 
Second corporal, PTed A. Mitchell. 
Third corporal, Robert M. McCluer. 
Fourth corporal, Absalom P'ord. 
Fifth corporal, Cyrus Corliss. 
Sixth corporal, Charles \\\ Dearborn. 
Seventh corporal, Samuel S. Mitchell. 
Eighth corporal, P'rancis Chandler. 
After the promotion, John W. P21a became captain. 
Henry D. "VVyatt, first lieutenant. 

James A. Page remained second lieutenant by his own 
option. 



58 The Fifteenth Xc7^> llaiiipshiir I'oIiuitccTS. 

John O. Drake became first sergeant. 

George S. Whitney, second sergeant. 

Thomas A. Barstow, third sergeant. 

George W. Pennock, fourth sergeant. 

Second corporal Fred A. Mitchell became fifth sergeant. 

George W. Hackett remained first corporal. 

Robert M. McCluer became second corporal. 

Absalom Ford, third corporal. 

Cyrus R. Corliss, fourth corporal. 

Charles W. Dearborn, fifth corporal. 

Samuel S. Mitchell, sixth corporal. 

Francis Chandler, seventh corporal. 

Private Frank H. George, eighth corporal. 

Two privates deserted — James Buckland and Sylvester 
W. Marden — before leaving the state. This reduces the 
number to ninety-seven. 

Of the company eighteen died of disease, and six of mortal 
wounds received in the siege of Port Hudson. 

Of the Campton men, numbering fifteen, eight died either 
of wounds or disease. 



Roll and Sketch of Coinf-diuy C. 



59 




CAPTAIN LANG — Co. C. 





LIKl'T. A v.. iii: 



<HC0X1) I.IErT. HEAX — Co. C. 



6o The Fificcuth Xcw Hauipshirc J 'olimiccrs. 

SKETCH OF COMPANY C, CAIT. MOSES EAXG. 



This comi:)any was comjiosed of the folldwin,:^- men from 
Enfield : 

l^zekiel E. F. Austin, age 37. 

Charles D. Banks, age 41. 

Benjamin F. Burnham, musician, age 36. 

Dexter E. Butman, age 19. 

Stephen Church, age 41. 

Arthur A. Austin, age 28. 

Hiram S. Baker, age 27 ; musician and assistant di\ision 
hospital steward at Port Hudson. 

Cyrus Burnham, transferred to Company E. 

Almon S. Church, transferred to Compan}- V . 

Samuel A. Currier, age 19. 

Allen V. Cox, first sergeant, age 25. 

Matthew Dutton, transferred to Company V. 

Dan Vt. Gage, age 4 1 . 

J^urgess Kimball, age 18. 

James A. Mulligan, age 25. 

Horace G. Pettengill, age 22. 

Charles B. Skinner, transferred to Compaiu' F. 

James C. Thurston, age 18. 

Austin Washburn, age 19 ; wounded 1)\- falling on abattis 
in the charge, May 27, 1863. 

Joseph Cross, transferred to Compan}- i^". 

Timothy 1^. I-'urnald. fourth sergeant, age 2)^. 

John C. l'"uller, age 4 i . 

l'".\erett J^. Muse, age 24 ; on detached ser\ ice in c|uarter- 
master's department, Gen. T. W. Sherman's di\ision, January 
I to July 26, 1863. 

James B. Lindsey, age 35. 

Charles H. Proctor, ajie 24. 



Roll and Sketch of Couipany C. 6 1 

Andrew J. Roberts, age 42. 

Joseph G. Spencer, fifth sergeant, age }^'^. 

Mhas S. W'hittier, age 30. 

Ahin C. Bean, second Heutenant, age 27. 

From Hath : 

Moses Lang, captain, age 46. 

John Clark, age 44. 

Charles Carbee, age 25. 

William H. Dodge, assistant cook, age iC^. 

Charles B. Kla, age 12. 

]^ller\' Kentfield, age 29. 

John B. X el son, age 27. 

Louis Paradis, age 34. 

Alilo C. Pollard, age 20. 

Mar\ey L. Smith, age 42. 

Bcnera Sherman, age 28. 

Curtis Bedel, age 19. 

Da\id Batchelder, age 19; fatally wounded in breast May 
27, 1863. 

Albert Chamberlain, age 18. 

Richard C. Clough, age 28 ; discharged from New York 
hospital Januar)' 2},, 1863. 

Harry Chamberlain, age 24. 

Carlton H. Clough, age 22. 

I-Jioch C. Dearth, age 31. 

Gilbert P\iller, age 30. 

Edward P. Little, age 2 i . 

John M. Powers, age 27. 

Alonzo Place, transferred to Company F. 

Andrew C. Rollins, eighth corporal, age 19. 

Horace Smith, age 26. 

Lorenzo D. Whitcher, second sergeant, age 34. 

Henry S. Bailey, age 18. 

Daniel Bedell, cook, age 38. 



62 The Fifteenth Xeic Hampshire ]\^/initeers. 

From L}man : 

George W. I^ailey, age 27. 

Charles Cram, age 29. 

James H. Garland, age 39. 

John \V. Millen, age 22. 

Amos V. Parker, first corporal, age 37. 

Benjamin Bailey, second corporal, age 40 ; wounded in 
ankle June 14, 1863. 

Richard Dodge, musician, age 28. 

Enos K. Hall, fifth corporal, age 31 ; very severely wounded 
in thigh and groin May 27, 1863. 

John A. Powers, age 27. 

Isaac Smith, age 29. 

From Landaff : 

John Bishop, third sergeant, age 44. 

Harrison C. Howland, appointed wagoner, age 22 ; wounded 
May 27, 1863. 

Calvin J. Carpenter, age 20. 

Henry \\\ Howland, third corporal, age 20. 

Alson S. Little, age 18. 

Daniel Spooner, age 23. 

William H. Young, age 19. 

P"rancis A. Oaks, age 22. 

John Stuart, age 44. 

From Bethleliem : 

John T. Dutton, sixth corporal, age 20. 
William D. luid\-. age 21. 
James R. (iale, age 24. 
Levi L. Tyrrell, age 33. 
Leonard M. Eudy, age 19. 
Ephraim A. ]uid\', age 23. 
Asa E. Swasc}', sexenth cor])oral, age 17. 
Jolm Weikls, age 24 ; assumeel name ; right name. Asa N. 
Day. 



Roll and Skc-tc/i of Couipany C. 63 

From Littleton : 

Ransom S. Day, age 21. 

Lewis O. Place, age 45 ; father of Alonzo and (jcorge W. 
Place. 

Charles S. Haseltine, first lieutenant, age 28. 

Austin Morse, fourth corporal, age 18 ; discharged for 
disability at Carrollton, A}M'il 3, 1863. 

George \V. Place, transferred to Company Y . 

From Benton : 

Moody Rowland, age 23 ; wounded in cheek. 
William Spooner, age 26. 

From Hanover : 

Wilder P. Cross, age 39. 

William N. Ste\-ens, age 21; discharged for disability- 
April 3, 1863. 

F'rom Orford : 

John Carrawav, age 43. 

F'rom Monroe : 

William W. Farwcll, age 19. 

From Tamworth : 

William P. Oilman, age 41. 

Thus the company consisted of ninet}'-five officers and 
men, as origmally constituted. Of these, two subsecjuently 
deserted, Charles D. Banks and William H. Young, both at 
Brooklyn, N. Y., on the eleventh day of December, 1862, as 
the company boarded the steamer " Cambria " lor the 
South. Richard C. Clough and Harvey L. Smith were dis- 
charged January 23, 1863, at New York, where they were 



64 'I'lic I'ifttcnth Xcic Hauipsluir J 'olitutccrs. 

left behind sick, the\' nexer haxing rejoined the compan)-. 
Se\en were transferred t<)C()m])an}- V before leaxinu,- Concord, 
viz., Cvriis Burnham, Ahrion S. Church, Joseph Cross, 
Matthew Dutton, Alonzo Place, George W. Place, and Charles 
K. Skinner. Lewis Blake enlisted from Knfield for Company 
C, but on arrixing at camp was mustered in as musician in 
Company A. 

Samuel A. Ciu'rier, P^phraim D. P2udy, Asa PI Swasey, 
and William W. P^nwell were also left behind sick when the 
regiment sailed, but subsequently rejoined the company, 
except Currier, who ser\ed his time out in New York. Of 
the ninety-five, three were commissioned officers, three were 
musicians, two were cooks, seven were transferred, one was 
detached, and six were left behind sick, which with the two 
deserters, left seventy-one men to receixe arms on the sexenth 
clax' of January, 1863, xvhen the old Belgian muskets, carried 
from Xexv Hampshire, were exchanged for the PLnfiekl rifle, 
and records show that the company drew se\cnt\'-one guns 
on that tlate. 

Reckoning out the sex'en transferred, and two discharged, 
and two deserters, leaxes eight^•-four officers and men, of xxhom 
thirty lost their lixes in the cause. 'Phis is the heaxicst loss 
of any company in the regiment ; it is two more than a third. 
Of those transferred, also, C)rus Burnham, Almon S. Church, 
and Lewis Blake died in the serxice, which would make 
thirtx-three tleaths out of the original compan}'. 

Cpon the company assembling at the Concord camp, a 
meeting was held in the barracks at whic-h wei-e elected all 
the comj^any officers bx' xote. 

.\ sum of monex xx'as handed to Captain Lang, from the 
citizens of i^ath, to i)urchase his swonl. 

( )f Companx' C, nine died of disease in the southern land, 
four of wounds receixed in battle, sexcn died while en route 



Roll and Sketch of Company C. 65 

for home of injuries and disease contracted in the serx'ice, 
and ten immecHatel}' after reaching;- home, from the same 
causes. The deaths were all from the seventy-one enlisted 
men who received arms in the South. It is 42.2 per cent. 
The Enfield squad went into camp October 3. 



66 The h'tftcvuth Xtz.' Hainpshin- I'olniitcc 




CAPTAIN JOHNSON — Co. D. 





1-IRST LIKUT. Cli.I'.-. 1^1. -Co. D. 



KCONI) Lliar. UIKGI.N— Co D. 



Roll and Skctcli of Covipany I>. 67 

SKETCH OF COMPANY D, UP TO N0VKMB1-:R 

12, 1863. 



Those who ser\'cd in other ori^anizations, so far as can be 
ascertained, are marked with a star. 

[This Hst follows the s])eHin,<4()f the orii;"inal descriptix'e book.] 

Jonathan H. Johnson, caj^tain, a^e 46, Dcerfield. 

Jerre \i. Chadwick, first lieutenant, age n, Deerfield. 

Woodbury M. Durgin, second lieutenant, age ^^y , North- 
wood. 

Charles A. Towle, first sergeant, age 25, Ej^som. 

John J. Hanson, second sergeant, age 26, Ne\vmarket. 

Nathaniel D. Bean, third sergeant, age 21, Northwood.* 

Jeremiah J. Swain, fourth sergeant, age '':^--,, Northwood ; 
wounded in hand Ma\- 2"/, 1863. 

John O. A. Hanson, fifth sergeant, age 28, Dover. 

Alfred E. Ambrose, first corporal, age '^^''^^ Deerfield. 

George J. Fogg, second corporal, age ''^'j , Northwood. 

George H. Rand, third corporal, age 31, Chichester. 

William H. Chadwick, fourth ctjrporal, age 19, Durham. 

Clark S. Willey, fifth corporal, age 22, Northwood. 

James \V. Goodhue, sixth corporal, age 29, Deerfield. 

Clark Bryant, sex'enth corporal, age 37. Northwood. 

Israel G. York, eighth cori:)oral, age 21, Lee. 

Edward P. Lane, musician, age 18, Candia. 

Benjamin V. Swain, musician, age 18, Candia. 

luhvin l-)atchelder, wagoner, age 31, Deerfield. 

Adams, Frank L., age 2"], Deerfield. 
Ames, Thomas J., age 33, Chichester. 
Avery, Joseph, age IJ , Candia.* 
Batchelder, Benjamin B., age 44, Deerfield. 
Barker, Levi, age 44, Candia. 



68 The Fifteenth Xei^^ Hampshire I'oluiiteers. 

l^eedc, Reuben \ ., a.<;"e 20, Xorthwood. 

Bean, Walter \V., age 19, Candia. 

Bean, Albion A., age 19, Deerfield. 

Bryant, Henry AI., age 24, Xorthwood. 

Bryant, James A., age 18, Xorthwood. 

Bryant, Charles L., age 21, Aloultonborough.* 

Brown, John H., age 18, Candia.* 

Brown, Jt)hn C, age 18, Epsom. 

Brown, Charles A., age 18, Epsom; severely wounded in 
body May 27, 1863.* 

Brackett, Walter G., age 18, Epsom. 

Bunce, Charles C, age 20, Dover.* 

Chase, Joseph W., age 18, Deerfield. 

Chase, Arthur M., age 22, Deerfield. 

Clay, Franklin, age 40, Candia. 

Dockham, Charles F., age 18, Xewmarket. 

Dow, Samuel T., age 22, Xorthwood.* 

Dunaven, William C, age 32, Deerfield. 

Duesbury, William X., age 18, Allenstown ; wounded in 
leg June 14, 1863.* 

Edmunds, .Aaron, age 39, Xorthwood. 

F'arnham, John W., age 21, Xorthwood.* 

Fifield, George C, age 26, Candia. 

iMfe, Wesley, age 28, Deerfield. 

Fogg, John P., age 18, Xorthwood. 

Fuller, Chase C, age 44, Xorthwood. 

(iowen, John, age 38, Dover.* 

Goodwin, Kobert. age 30. Durham. 

Grifiin, John S., age 22, Concord. 

Mall, Daniel, age IJ , Candia. 

Haines, Alanson C, age 19, Xewmarket ; re-cnlisted in 
Sixth Massachusetts.* 

Hoit, William A., age 18, Xorthwood. 

Hill, Henry ()., age 18, Xorthwood. ■■ 



Roll and Sketch of Covipajiy D. 69 

Hilton, Stephen, a<;e 31, Lee. 

Jenkins, William, a<;e },^, Deerfield. 

Johnson, Alexander J., age 28, North wood. 

Johnson, Calvin U., age 23, lij^som. 

Johnson, Samuel S., age 43, Northwood ; severe contu- 
sions head and abdomen, June 14, 1863. 

Joy, Eben, age 44, Newmarket. 

Langley, Daniel B., age 28, Candia. 

Langley, John ()., age 41, Madbury. 

Lancaster, John G., age 18, Northwood. 

Lock, John F., age 22, Northwood. 

Mason, Daniel P., age 22, Northwood. 

Marston, Charles S., age 20, Chichester. 

Marcott, John, age 22, Hanover. 

Mead, Andrew J., age 20, Candia. 

Nay, Samuel C, age 18, Candia.* 

Nealey, James D., age 19, Newmarket.* 

Norton, John, age 39, Northwood. 

Palmer, John, age 44, Newmarket. 

Page, George H., age 21, Northwood.* 

Perkins, Charles W., age 21, Newmarket. 

Philbrick, Josiah B., age 24, Deerfield ; api^ointed eighth 
corporal March 25, 1863. 

Randall, Joseph VV., age 36, Deerfield. 

Reynolds, Nason F., age 21, Northwood.* 

Richardson, John, age 2 1 , Northwood. 

Richardson, P2ben R., age 29, Northwood. 

Roberts, Alvin H., age 18, Northwood.* 

Robinson, Nathaniel, Jr., age 40, Newmarket. 

Sanborn, Anthony L., age 30, Deerfield. 

Sanborn, James, age 41, Northwood. 

Smith, George S., age 21, Pittsfield. 

Smith, Charles F., age 44, Deerfield. 

Smith, James, age 30, Durham. 



/O The Fifteenth Xcw llaiiipslnir \ 'oluntccrs. 

Smith, John, age 28, Do\er. 

Stevens, William T., age 43, Deerfield. 

Stevens, William, age 20, Durham;. 

Stanley, William S., age iS, Chichester. 

Taylor, William B., age 44, Newmarket. 

Taylor, George W., son of William B., age 18, Candia. 

Thompson, Josiah D., age 27, Lee.* 

Tilton, George W., age 34, Deerfield. 

Tourrigney, Calis, age 21, Hanover. 

Watson, David P., age 18, Northwood.* 

White, Charles E., age 19, Deerfield. 

Williams, Roswell S., age 43, Northwood. 

Witherell, Edwin E., age 28, Deerfield. 

Wyman, Richard !{., age 22, Newmarket. 

One hundred and one (officers and men. 

Eifth Sergeant John O. A. Hanson, deserted at Camp 
N. P. Banks, Jamaica, Long Island, X. Y., November 21, 
1862 ; George C. h'ifield, at Concord, October 11, 1862, and 
was apprehended June 2"] , 1863, but nex'cr rejoined the com- 
pany; Robert (loodwin, at Concord, October 25, 1862 — went 
home on furlough and did not return ; James Smith, at 
Concord, October 25, 1862 ; John Smith, at Concord, Octo- 
ber 28, 1862 ; and William Stevens, at Concord, Noxcmber 
8, 1862^ — six in all. I^ben R. Richardson, while at home 
on furlough, just prior to the regiment's departure for the 
front, lost one or two of his toes b}- some "means not 
explained," on account of which injur\' he was discharged at 
Concord, xMarch 2-], 1863, not Inning left the state. These 
will receive no further mention. 

Stephen Hilton deserted at Jamaica, Camp N. P. l^anks, 
Novembei" 29, 1862, and William C. l)una\en, N<)\-ember 30, 
1862, at I)rooklvn. N. \'.. but both returned xoluntarily 



Roll atid Sketch of Company I). 71 

under the President's proclamation, on March 30, 1863, and 
served with credit to the end of the term, and were hon- 
orably discharged. 

John Marcott, Calls Tourrigney, and Richard 1{. \\'\man 
were transferred to Company F on the twelfth day of 
November, 1862. 

Three remained behind sick — Joseph Avery, George S. 
Smith, and Henry M. Hryant. Avery and Smith remained 
at home, reported to the company on its return, and were 
mustered out with the regiment. Smith did not long surxive, 
dying on the fifth day of November, 1865. He took cold on 
guard, which resulted in pneumonia and consumption. Avery 
recovered, and later re-enlisted in the First New Hampshire 
Cavalry, serving therein to the close of the war. Bryant 
rejoined the company at Carrollton, Fa., on the tenth day of 
March, 1863. The company was thus depleted by fifteen 
men before leaxing for the South, three only of whom returned 
to duty. Fxcept these fifteen, and Lieutenant Durgin, the 
company reached the enemy's countr)- by the good ship 
"James S. Green," without serious mishap or the loss of a 
single life, as will be hereafter related. It will thus be seen 
that eighty-five of Company D embarked on this steamer, 
and their names can be ascertained by consulting the roll. 

The Northwood and Deerfield boys frequently met and 
drilled under Messrs. Johnson and Chadwick, prex'ious to 
going into camp. On the sixth of October, 1862, the Xorth- 
w(xxl squad rendezvoused at the village store in Northwood 
Narrows. They had been enlisted by ^Ir. W. M. Durgin, 
who at that time was one of the selectmen of the town — 
afterwards second lieutenant of the company — and under 
his charge were conveyed to Concord, a distance of sixteen 
miles, by means of one four-horse team and several single 
ones, many friends and neighbors accompanying them. The 
dav was a very fine one, and the box's dlx'erted themse]\-es 



-J 2 The Fiftccntli Xcic Havipshiir ]'olu}itccrs. 

b\- pcltiiii;- each other with ajjples, and in other boyish sports 
along the way. It is still remembered that one Johnson's 
lonely tall hat became a special mark, and was sadly wrecked. 
The party left the place of rendezvous at nine a. m., and 
reached its destination at noon and took up its quarters in 
the barracks at the fair grounds, over the long bridge across 
the Merrimac ri\-er and about one mile from the capitol. 

The Deerfield contingent was enlisted by Mr. Jonathan 
H. Johnson — afterwards captain — who at the time was one 
of the selectmen of Deerfield. All but Fife went into camp 
on the same date — October 6 — at the Concord barracks, 
some by teams, but most by rail from the Candia depot \ia 
Manchester. The Candia boys also went by rail at the same 
time. A joint meeting of the various scjuads had been 
previously held in the town hall, at Deerfield, at which the 
officers of the company were chosen by vote, Mr. Johnson 
being elected captain, Mr. Chadwick first lieutenant, and Mr. 
Durgin second lieutenant, and on that occasion swords were 
publicly presented to the captain and first lieutenant-elect. 
The non-commissioned officers were chosen C)ctober 24. 
On the seventeenth the company drew their uniforms. After 
a stay of six or eight days at the barracks all were furlouglied 
home for a week. On the Sunday of October 12, when at 
honie, the Northwood boys buried, with military honors, 
Lieut. Charles W. Bean, of the Fifth New Hampshire \'ol- 
imteers, who a few da}'s before had returned from tlie Iront 
to (He of wounds received at Antictam on the sevenleenlli ot 
September previous. 

During this furlougli, neighbors and citizens, with i)ublic 
ceremonies, i)resented Lieutenant Durgin with an elegant 
sword, remarks being made b\- Mr. llenr\- Knowlton, antl to 
which the lieutenant responded. ()n the return of the com- 
]~»any to camp at the expiration of this furlough, it was tull\- 
organized and passed the time in thill and the usual routine 



Roll n lid Skch'/i of Company D. 73 

and amusements of camj) life until November 12, when, with 
the rest of the regiment, it marched to Concord, and in the 
state house yard was formally mustered into the serxice of 
the United States. 

Of this company, of eighty-eight officers and men who 
actually reached Louisiana, two were killed, eighteen died of 
disease, several were wounded as will be shown, and at least 
nineteen served in other organizations. Idie light loss of life 
in killed is accounted for by the fact that the company was 
detailed as sharpshooters on May 27, 1862, and thereby 
avoided the severe battle of that date. 

Company D, at the muster of the regiment in the state 
house yard on November 12, had present three commissioned 
officers, thirteen non-cr)mmissioned officers, two musicians, 
one wagoner, and se\'enty pri\-ates, four prixates being at 
home sick. 



74 il<^' l-iftccnth Xc-a' Hauipshiir I'olnHtccrs. 

ROLL AND PRLLIMIXARY SKETCH OF 
COMPANY E. 



Capt. William E. Stearns's company was composed as 
follows : 

From Mollis— 23 : 

Francis A. Wood, second lieutenant, age 27. 

Alfred A. Hanscom, sergeant, age 29. 

Charles H. Adams, age 18 ; severe wound in hand June 
13, 1863. 

George H. Annis, age 22. 

Caleb W. Chamberlain, age 34. 

Ai Coburn, age 42. 

Charles S. PLamblett, age ^-j ; severe wound in hand June 
13, 1863.* 

Henry J. Hardy, age 18. 

Isaac Hardy, age ^^y . 

Samuel F. Hayden, age 29. 

George S. Hull, age 30. 

Granville P. Patch, age 31. 

Aaron AI. Pond, age 30 ; se\erely wounded in leg June 
II, 1863.* 

Frank ¥.. Pond, age i"] . 

Rufus Potwine, age 22; March 2, 1863, having been 
absent sick and recoxcred and not returned, is dropjx'd as a 
tlesertcr ; March 10, returned trom desertion.* 

David J. Rideout, age 21.* 

Thomas Sculley, age 42. 

j-'reeman II. Smith, age 17.* 

John C. Smith, age 41 . 

(icorge V . Tennew age 20. 

Isaac \'and\ke, age 39; wounded in face Ma\- 2~ , 1863. 

Harvey .M. Willoby, age 29. 

Oliver \. Willobv, age 38. 



Roll atid Sketch of Company E. 75 

The following- from Brentwood — 12 : 

George K. Russell, first sergeant, age 2 i . 
Josiah Norris, sergeant, age 22 ; severe wound in arm 
June 14, 1863. 

James S. Lord, corporal, age 26. 

Lorenzo D. Gate, age ij . 

Frank A. Golby, age 18. 

Frank W. Gould, age 20. 

Edward Hamil, age 22. 

James T. Heselton, age 28. 

George B. Lane, age 21. 

James H. Robinson, corporal, age 23.* 

Lewis \V. Sinclair, age 30. 

INIarcus M. 7\ittle, age 19 ; deserted. 

From Auburn — 6 : 
IVIoses B. Davis, corporal, age 2 i . 

Daniel C. Abbott, age },2 ; se\ere wound in foot June 14, 
1863. 

Jonathan Ballou, age 21.* 
Willis H. Brown, age 18. 
Jesse Wood, age 28. 
Frank C. Wood, age 22.* 

Vx()\\\ Manchester — 8: 

William E. Stearns, captain, age 21 ; wounded May 27,1863. 

Walter S. Killey, sergeant, age 18. 

Michael Abbott, age 18. 

George W. Brown, age 22.* 

Joseph K. Heselton, age 19 ; wounded in arm by shell 
June 2 I .* 

Charles H. Martin, age " 16" ; was only fourteen years of 
age ; wounded June 27.* 

Henry S. Perry, drummer, age 16 ; severely injured by 
explosion of shell after the surrender. 

Irving D. Tobie, age 18. 



"j^ The I'lfticnth Xciv Havipsliirc ] 'olniitccrs. 

From Windham — 6: 

Levere L. Duplesses, age 33. 

Albert Fletcher, age 22.* 

Charles E. Hanscomb, age 23.* 

Elexis Marcott, age 21 ; wounded in hand June 12, 1863. 

Joseph F. Mayot, age 18. 

Ephraim Plumpton, age 18.* 

From Litchfield — 7 : 

James V . Parker, second lieutenant, age 20. 

David L. Annis, corporal, age 32. 

John C. Graham, corporal, age 25. 

Langdon Lydston, cor}:)oral, age 28. 

Jonathan Burbank, age 29. 

Charles H. Marsh, age 21. 

Fernando Parker, age 27 ; appointed sergeant. 

F"rom Popping — 3 : 

Horace C. Page, corporal, age 44. 

James Richards, age 19 ; wounded June 14.* 

Joseph Hamil, age 28 ; deserted. 

P'rom Westmoreland — 2 : 

Amasa O. Amidon, age 18.* 
William H. Clark, age 28 ; deserted. 

P'rom Merrimack — 5 : 

Charles N. Green, sergeant, age 21 ; discharged for dis- 
ability May 20, 1863. 

Tyler 'P. Longa, corporal, age 21.* 
Pleni-}- Putterheld, age 20. 
Samuel Marsh, age 44. 
George Wylie, age 25. 

1^'rom Ik'dford — 5 : 

James S. Lord, corporal, age 26. 



Roll and Sketch of Company E. "J J 

Andrew C. Giles, age 22; wounded June 21, at. Port 
Hudson. 

John Hodgman, age 41 ; severe wound in arm June 14, 
1863. 

William H. Hodgman, age 18. 

Jacob I. Whittemore, age 24 ; severe wound in foot May 
27, 1863. 

From Dunbarton — 3 : 
Chester L. Page, age 34.* 
Robert Richards, age 27.* 
Lysander W'yman, age 18.* 

F'rom Goffstown — 3 : 
Leonard N. George, age 18.* 
Godfrey Johonnett, age 35. 

Henry C. Richards, age 19 ; detailed to Fourth Massachu- 
setts Battery, P'ebruary 27, 1863. 

F'rom Lor.donderry — i : 
John Orale, age 19. 

From Concord — i : 

Rothois Planders, drummer, age 19. 

F'rom Salem — i : 

Stillman B. Heselton, age 25.* 

From Landaff — i : 

John (3'Connor, age 22 ; deserted. 

From Chichester — i : 

William Stearns, age 44 ; father of Captain Stearns. 

Eighty-eight officers and men all told. Of these four 
deserted: William H. Clark, Joseph Hamel, John ()"Coiuior, 
and Marcus M. Tuttle. This leaves eighty-four to reach 
Louisiana. 



78 The h'iftCiiitJt Xfz.' HainpsJnrc W^liintccrs. 

Robert N. Corning-, of Concord, presented Lieutenant 
Parker with a sword. This company, on the da}- of the 
battle of May 27, was deployed as sharpshooters on the left 
of the battle-field, well up front but concealed in a slashing, 
and this accounts for its light loss of life by gunshot wounds. 
One was killed on this occasion, twelve died of disease inci- 
dent to the service, twenty-two served in other organizations, 
twelve were wounded, fort)'-six were under twent}-two years 
of age. This company had two drummers and no fifer. 
Jonathan l^allou, left behind sick in New York city, rejoined 
company at Camp Parapet, January 5, 1863. R. I'otwine. 
left behind sick, rejoined company at Camp Parapet, March 
12, 1863. 

It is a singular circumstance that of the twent)'-two from 
Hollis all returned alix'C ; but John C. Smith died three da}"s 
before the muster out of the regiment. The company went 
into camp Thursday, October 2, 1862; mustered in October 9. 
Lieutenant Parker was mustered in same date. Ca}itain 
Stearns and Lieutenant Wood were mustered in October 22. 
The compan}' chose their non-commissioned ofificers Novem- 
ber I . 

Those ser\-ing in other organizations, so far as known, are 
marked In' a star. 



Ro/i and Skitc/i of Coiiifany F. 79 

ROLL AXU PRELIMLXARV SKKICH OI- 
COMPANY F. 



From Canaan — 19 ; 

William Gordon, captain, age 4 1 . 

I^'red H. Wells, first sergeant, age 42.* 

Alvah Oilman, fourth corporal, age 44. 

William Adams, age 2 i . 

Edgar D. Aldrich, age 18; severe wound in i-il)s June 
II, 1863. 

I^dwin D. Aldrich, age 19. 

Dexter F. Bradbury, age 27. 

Albert Bradbury, age 24. 

Austin Dunham, age 24 ; wounded May 27, 1863, slight. 

Everett W. Dow, age 20.* 

James Furlong, age 25. 

Rufus S. Gross, age 33. 

Hiram Jones, age 44. 

David Legro, age 27; wounded May 27, 1863. sliglit, 
hand. 

Levi Martin, age 40 ; wounded May 27, 1863, slight. Iiand. 

Gilbert J. Roby. age 27. 

Abial Sharp, age 34. 

Don C. Washburn, age 23. 

William W. Dustin, age 43 ; severe wound in leg June 
1 1, 1863. 

From Grafton — 16 : 

Sylvester Martin, first lieutenant, age 23. 

Stephen George, fifth sergeant, age 42. 

James B. Bullock, second corjioral, colors, age 30 ; joined 
color guard March 2. 

William H. l^aldwin. sixth corporal, age 2)^ ; severe wound 
in side ; returned from hospital, New York, March 14. 



8o The Fifteenth Xei^ Hampshire I 'olnnteers. 

Albert K. Barney, drummer, age 2 i . 

Ahira Barney, age 18. 

Melvin M. Barney, age 20. 

George E. Baldwin, age 29. 

John Caswell, age 41. 

Joseph E. Follansbee, age 27. 

Isaac B. Hoyt, age 19. 

Sewell Hale, age 25. 

Ora H. Heath, age 21 ; wounded May 27, 1863. 

Jesse Martin, age 18. 

Daniel B. Smith, age 24 ; wounded slight, hand. 

John Taylor, age 40. 

F'rom Springfield — 14 : 

Stephen P. Colby, second lieutenant, age 30. 

George ¥ . Colby, third corporal, age 18. 

Clinton D. Fowler, age 22. 

William M. Fowler, age 20 ; discharged for disability at 
Concord, X. H.. April 14, 1863 ; did not go South. 

Richard \V. Heath, age 19. 

Gustavus Levering, age 27. 

Joseph O. Lovering, age 25. 

George McDaniel, age 18; returned from Xew York 
general hospital ]\[arch 14, 1863. 

Solon Morrill, age 18. 

James K. Richardson, age 19. 

John Robie, age 3 i . 

John 1). Washburn, corj^oral, age 18. 

James W. Lull, second sergeant, age 40 ; wounded in 
arm Ma)" 2~ , 1863. 

Horatio B. Fowler, age 22. 

From Danbury — 10 : 

James E. Ford, first corporal, age 18 ; wounded in leg 
May 2-j, 1863.* 

Thomas Dunlop, seventh corporal, age i"/ . 



Ro/l and Sketch of Covipany F. 8 1 

George H. Butler, age 19. 

John Ford, age 27. 

John Gross, age 25. 

Lowell S. Hartshorn, age 41.* 

John A. Jones, wagoner, age 44. 

Ira \V. Morrison, age 44 ; detailed to F"ourth Massachu- 
setts Battery, February 27, 1863. 

John Morrison, age 19 ; detailed to Fourth Massachusetts 
Battery, February 27, 1863. 

John Wells, age 21 . 

From Enfield — 5 : 

Matthew Button, fourth sergeant, age 28. 

Cyrus Burnham, age 2}^. 

Joseph Cross, age 35.* 

Almon S. Church, age 19. 

Charles B. Skinner, age 22.* 

From Dorchester — 4 : 

Greenough D. Sanborn, third sergeant, age ^^2* 

John E. Blaisdell, age 18 ; discharged at Marine hospital 
for disability, Xew Orleans, March 18, 1863 ; was left sick 
at Xew York four weeks. 

William P. Ferrin, age 38. 

Elias H. Hadley, age 22 ; wounded in shoulder fatally 
June 13, 1863. 

From Hampstead — 3 : 

Hazen L. Hoyt, eighth corporal, age ij . 

D. Lowell X. Hoyt, age 35. 

Warren A. Kimball, age n. 

From Alton — 2 : 

Alfred Garland, age 43. 

George W. Young, age n ; wounded May 2- . 



82 The FifticntJt Xcic HanipsJiiir ]\Tuutccrs. 

Vxoxvi Hanover — 2 : 

Calis Tourrigney, age 2 1 . 
John Marcott, age 22. 

James O. Bagley, age 24, Thornton.* 
Alonzo Place, age 25, Bath.* 
Richard E. Wyman, age 22, Newmarket.* 
Thomas Wilson, age 27, North Hampton. 
George W. Place, age 23, Littleton.* 

Triieworthy L. Moulton, age 41, Rochester; wounded in 
wrist Jmie 13, 1863.* 

William B. Cook, age 29, Concord.* 

George W. Blaisdell, fifth corporal, age 26, Groton. 

Arial B. Martin, age 23, Orange. 

Officers and men in all, 84. Of these William B. Cook 
and Thomas Wilson deserted, the first named at Concord. 
N. H., November 12, 1862 — this man had previously served 
in the Eighth New Hampshire Volunteers, and been dis- 
charged therefrom for disability — and the last named, at 
Cam]) N. P. ]-5anks, near Brooklyn, N. Y. — Jamaica Union 
Race Course — on November 25, 1862, taking with him 
$26.10 worth of Uncle Sam's clothing. 

Six remained behind sick, George McDaniel. George W. 
Blaisdell, Alfred Garland, William M. I-^owlcr, Cyrus Burn- 
ham, and James (). ]^aglc\-, the latter of whom rec(»\ered 
and subsequent])- ser\ed in tlic bjghteenth New Hampshire. 
Cyrus Burnham's name will be found among those of the 
dead, he having succuml^ed to the debihtating effects ot 
camp life, and which resulted in Ihs death on September 5, 
1863. Except these eight, it a])pears that the full company 
embarked on tlie " Caml)ria." and ai-ri\ed at Carrollton in 
safety. 



Ro// and Sketch of Couipany F. 83 

The men met at \\'hitnc}-'s hotel, in Canaan, two or tliree 
times prior to going into camp at Concord, and on one of 
these occasions chose their captain by \ote. Hiey assembled 
in camp early in October, and there elected their lieutenants. 
While at the Concord camp the men were incessantl)' drilled 
— the officers hiring a West Point drill master at their own 
expense, for a part of the time. The comixam', while here, 
entered heartily into the sports and participated in the stirring 
scenes and usual incidents of camp lite. It is still related 
how they, on October 23, rode a gambler out of " Camj) 
Colby" on a rail to the Concord railroad station, a distance 
of two miles, and left him there unconscious ; he at one of 
the games had struck a fellow in the face. The}' were 
followed by hundreds. 

It appears that Garland, Bagiey, and Fowler did not leave 
the state, and Fowler was discharged there April 14, 1863. 
McDaniel, Blaisdell, and Burnham, returned to dut}' at 
Carrollton, La. 

In common with the other companies, they were furloughed 
home for a brief time just before lea\ing for the front. 

The company lost fifteen by disease. It could not ha\e 
mustered at Port Hudson over thirty-five officers and men 
for duty, and of these, five received mortal wounds in action 
or on the picket line, and at least eight others were seriously 
injured. It is highly interesting to note that of the very few 
sur\-i\ors of the company who were not totall}' inca})acitated 
physically, at least twelve served in other organizations, as 
indicated by a star on the roll. 



84 ^ !i^' Fifteenth Xciv Hampshire I 'olnnteers. 

JOSEPH GKRRISH AYERS. 



Born in Canterbury, N. H. Second and first lieutenant in 
the Fifteenth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers from 
November 3, 1862, to August 13, 1863. Acting assistant 
surgeon, United States Army, from June to October, 1864; 
acting assistant surgeon, United States Navy, from December 
17, 1864, to September 24, 1866. Commissioned in the 
United States Navy as assistant surgeon Octobers, 1866; 
as surgeon January 7, 1878, and as medical inspector Feb- 
ruary 25, 1895 ; fleet surgeon of Asiatic station 1895 to 
1897; now in charge of United States Naval Hospital, 
Chelsea, Mass. 



Roll and Skc'lcli of Covipauy G. 85 

ROLL AND PRKLIMIXARV SKI:TCH ()1< 
COMPANY (;. 



Twenty-three men from Barnsteacl : 

Thomas M. Huse, first lieutenant, age 50 ; honorably dis- 
charged for disability February 23, icS63, by (General l^anks.* 

Christopher C. Pickering, first sergeant, age 24 ; appointed 
second lieutenant.* 

David S. Huse, corporal, age 18; son of Lieutenant 11 use. 

Timothy Blake, Jr., fifer, age 29. 

George W. Blake, drummer, age 32 ; left sick at Buffalo 
August 7, 1863.* 

Charles W. Adams, age 38 ; wounded in hand and breast 
June 14, 1863. 

Henry H. Buzzell, age 26. 

John ¥. Chesley, age 25. 

John Cate, age 44 ; May 27, 1863, shot tlirough shoulder 
and lungs, fatal. 

Jeremiah E. Emerson, age 24. 

George H. P2merson, age 22. 

William A. Foye, age 27. 

John Hill, age 44. 

James M. Jones, age 29.* 

Jacob Lord, age 43. 

John C. Mason, age 18. 

Hazen D. Nutter, age 18. 

Trueworthy Norris, age 43. 

Charles J. Roberts, age 35. 

Albert G. VVingate, age 18. 

Hanson H. Young, corporal, age 19; appointed March i, 
1863 ; wounded. 

William A. Chesley, age 19. 

George D. Clark, age 39. 



I 



86 The Fifteenth Xci.' Ilaiiipshiir I'oliiutccrs. 

Sixteen from Pittsfiekl : 

Lewis W. Osgood, eaptain, ai;e 27 ; slii^htl}- wounded May 
2"] ; wounded in lei; June 12, 1863. 

James \V. Shaw, fifth sergeant, age 27. 

Albert F. Berry, first corporal, age 2 1 ; appointed sergeant. 

Kzra C. Willard, eighth corporal, ag^e 35. 

Henry L. Robinson, wagoner, age 21.* 

J(;hn E. Brown, cook, age 26. 

John L. Drew, age 22.* 

Philester S. h:ili()tt, age 23. 

Charles F. French, age 22. 

John Johnson, age 44. 

Isaiah Swain, age 21. 

George W. Snell, age 43. 

John Young, age 18. 

Enoch AI. Young, age 20. 

Frank \Y. Young, age 21.* 

Edgar L. Carr, hospital steward, age 21.* 

Thirteen from Loudon : 

Henry R. Hrown, second sergeant, age 21 ; api)ointed first 
sergeant March i, 1863. 
Henry IL Herry, age 27. 
Jonathan Hrown, age 25. 
Alfred V.. Chase, age 19. 
Andrew J. Cross, age 34. 
King J. C'ross, age 32.* 
\)\\\ C. Dennett, age 35. 
Samuel (L Lovering, age 35.* 
James V . Moses, age 23. 
Dick Rogers, age 1 8. 
William H. I'urner, age 44. 
Roby True, age 44. 
William v.. W Willev. age 18.* 




EDGAR I,. CARR— Co. G. 




CORP. EZRA C. WII,I,ARD-Co. G 



Roll and Sketch of Couipany G. 87 

Thirteen from Canterbury : 

Aui^ustine R. Ayers, fourth sergeant, age 23 ; wounded. 

John S. W'hidden, fourth eorjDoral, age 19. 

Monroe Brown, sixth corporal, age 26 ; winuided in hantl 
June 14, 1863. 

Harper S. Allen, age 19 ; severely wounded in calf of leg 
May 27, and sent to Camp Parapet. 

Moody J. Boyce, age 19.* 

Charles H. Glines, age 20. 

Charles Huntoon, age 23. 

Oliver Lock, age 39 ; wounded June 14, slight, hand. 

Henry W. McDaniel, age 19 ; wounded slightly May 27. 

Erastus O. Nudd, age Tiy. 

David K. Nudd, age t,t,. 

Frank O. Picard, age 18. 

William R. Lake, age 18. 

Seven from Chichester : 

John A. West, third sergeant, age 24. 

Hiram Hook, fifth corporal, color, age 20 ; swiftest runner 
m the regiment at Long Island ; severe wound in arm May 
27, 1863.* 

Hugh Burns, age 40. 

Levi Hook, age 18 ; wounded in leg May 27, 1863.* 

Alfred A. Langmaid, age ^6* 

Charles J. Roby, age 21. 

Charles H. Staniels, age 25. 

Seven from Strafford : 

John S. Loss, third corporal, age 25 ; wounded in liand 
May 27, 1863, slight. 

Paul H. Winkley, seventh corporal, age 26. 
John W. Avery, age 18. 
Samuel Perry, age 25. 



88 The FiftccutJi Xcic Havipsliirc W^linitccrs. 

Thomas C. Pitman, age 45. 
Mark H. Winklcy, age -^-j . 
Luther C. Critchett. age 27. 

Three from Windham : 
John \\. lirown, age 26. 
James leaker, age 25. 

George \V. Durant, age 28 ; shot through wrist, higii up, 
June 14, 1863. 

Two from Fisherville : 
George \V. Brown, age 29. 
John H. Heath, age 23. 

One from Northfield : 

Joseph G. Ayers, second Heutenant, age 22 ; appointed 
first lieutenant March i, 1863, vice Lieutenant Huse re- 
signed.* 

One from Alexandria : 
Sylvester D. Hunt, age 18. 
One from Nottingham : 
John H. Moulton, age 18.* 
One from Concord : 
Josej^h I{. Sargent, age 21.* 
One from I^psom : 
Jose]~)li Saturia)', age 37. 

I\hd<ing ninet\' officers and men. 

( )n the twent\-ninth of October the Company G boys were 
ver\- niciT}-. Se\ cral pla\- \iohns in tlie barracks. There is a 
\-cntriloc|uist in the c-ompan\-, and also one in Company 1). 
wlio lielp along the sport. .A Compan\- (i diar\- shows that 
on the thirtieth of October the regiment is called in line for 



Roll and Sketch of Covipany G. 89 

the first time for dress parade. Line termed at 4.30, and 
was dismissed at dark, Major l^lair in command. F,o\s 
engage in ball games at the Concord camp aiid in foot hall 
and cards. 

November 1 the company marched to the quartermaster's, 
and procured their knapsacks, haversacks, and canteens. 

Five of the company deserted before the regiment left the 
state for the seat of war, namely, James Brown, James 
Baker, Trueworth)- Norris, and Charles J. Roberts, the latter 
of whom was apprehended and assigned to the hjghth New 
Hampshire to serve out his term. None of these rejoined the 
company. Also George W. Durant deserted at Concord on 
the same date with Norris, November 12, 1862, but returned 
to duty voluntarily April i, 1863, at Camp Parapet, La., and 
served with conspicuous credit. He was se\"ereh' wounded 
at Port Hudson in the battle of May 27, 1863. It is said 
that Norris influenced Durant to desert ; but there were 
extenuating circumstances in the case of Norris, which will 
be briefly mentioned. It thus seems that eighty-six of this 
company actually reached the seat of war. 

Captain Osgood was very popular with his men, and was 
by them presented with a sword of such elegance that per- 
mission to carry the same had to be secured from higher 
authority, it being richer in design and more ornate than 
allowed by army regulations to officers of his rank. Lieuten- 
ant Pickering ofificiated at the presentation, the captain 
responding in a happy \ein. This took place at the Concord 
camp, at the close of the meeting held for the choice of 
officers. Norris, who confidently expected to be chosen to a 
lieutenancy, was bitterly disappointed in his ambition, and 
whether justly or unjustly aggrieved, did, it is claimed, on 
this account desert. 

It appears that fifty-one of this compan}- reported lor dut)' 
at Port Hudson, of whom two were killed and at least eight 
others placed liors dc combat by se\ere wounds in the battle 



QO The I'lftccntli Xci^' Ilampsltiir I'ohintccrs. 

of May 27. Several others were wounded as the siei;e }m)- 
gressed. At least fifteen of the shattered remnant that 
returned serxed in other organizations. 

It is recalled that the commissioned officers of the regiment 
were generally a very fine body of men, several of them 
being conspicuous for physical beauty and soldierly bearing, 
and which was highly emphasized by their rich uniforms and 
military trappings ; they were decked in blue and gold, and 
exce})t when on severe duty, were spotless and brilliant as an 
otter, and in these respects Captain Osgood, it is claimed by 
many, held the first position. He was a splendid specimen 
of the race. As will be seen, he was severely wounded at 
Port Hudson, and barely missed losing his life thereby. 

The G. A. R. Post at Barnstead is named for I^ieutenant 
Huse of this company. 

Thirt}' men of the company reached the Concord camp in 
the forenoon (jf October 6, and marched immediate!}- to 
Concord under Captain Osgood, where the)- were supplied 
with blankets, tin plates, dippers, and knixes, forks, and 
spoons, and then returned to camp for a dmner of dr\- bix'ad 
and coffee. At 6 [>. m. had supper of bread and meat. 
October 7, beef, ])ork and beans, brown and white l^read, and 
coffee for breakfast ; ham and ]K)tatoes for dinner. October 
8, some Pittsfield bo\s, who went home on the sexenth, 
returned witli a brace of turkeys, which were ]M-epared for 
breakfast of the ninth, and no c|uest!ons asked as to their 
cost or nativity. C^n this day — the ninth — the Canterbury 
contingent arrixed in camp ; tliex' marched to Concord tor 
their outfit, and at night tliere was great hilarity initiating 
these new comers. On the tenth the Harnstead st|uad 
an-i\ed, and there was some trouble with tlie h'ourtecnth 
New Hampshire boxs, wlio cam])ed near b_x' and attempted 
to pass our guard. 



Roll and Sketch of Company G . 9 1 

( )n tlie eleventh the company was inspected at the state 
house, and five colored brothers were thrown out. On 
Monday, October 20, the company was furloui^hed home till 
Tuesday. On the seventeenth a double guard was placed at 
night, as the Fourteenth was going in the morning and 
trouble was anticipated. On the eighteenth the Fourteenth 
left in great spirits, and were given three rousing cheers at the 
Concord camp. Reveille at 5.30 ; breakfast, 7 ; squad drill, 
9, for two hours ; dinner, 12 ; company drill, 3 ; supper, 6 ; 
tattoo, 9 ; taps, 9.30. On the twenty-second there was a 
snow storm in the forenoon. On the twenty-fifth Osgood 
was unanimously elected captain ; also J. G. Ayers was 
unanimously chosen second lieutenant, l^'or first lieutenant 
the vote stood: Huse, 67 ; M. S. Merrill, 5 ; T. Norris, i. 
Pickering's vote for orderly was also unanimous. 

Those marked with an asterisk are known to have served 
in other oruanizations. 



92 The Fifteenth Xeio Hampshire l^^hmteers. 




CAPTAIN SANBORN — Co. H. 





CAPTAIN SANH()KN-Co. II 



iKCOND I.IETT. PERKINS — Co. H. 



Roll and Sketch of Compaiiv H. 93 

ROLL AND PRKLIMIXARV SKKTCH OF 
COMPANY H. 



The books of this company have been destroyed by 
fire, but it appears that it was composed of eighty-five 
officers and men, as the annexed roll will show. It was 
reduced to eighty by desertion before leaving the Concord 
camp. Four lost their lives in battle ; eleven died of disease 
incident to the service ; several were more or less severely 
wounded ; nineteen were under military age at the breaking 
out of hostilities. It is known that at least thirteen served 
in other organizations, several of whom had been injured in 
the service prior to joining the Fifteenth Regiment. 

The citizens of Sanbornton presented Captain San]:i()rn 
with a sword ; and also while at Concord, a committee of 
townsmen of old Londonderry visited the camp, and presented 
Lieutenant Perkins an elegant sword, Mr. John Dickey, of 
blessed memory, making the presentation remarks. 

It can be truthfully said, and without disparagement to 
any, that no military organization possessed braver or more 
faithful officers than the Fifteenth Regiment, and among 
them none more so than those of Company H. It is ahva}-s 
fitting and proper to s-peak freely of the merits of those who 
have gone to their reward, and in these pages it will be seen 
that Lieutenants Seavey and Perkins were of the bravest of 
the brave ; they were conspicuous among thousands. I^'or 
them the last roll-call is answered, the taps have sounded, the 
lights are out ; and at this late day, in the quiet evening as it 
were, the attempt to do justice to the memory of such, and 
to make record of their deeds, is a pleasure and a liigli and 
sacred duty. 

A memorandum of Major Aldrich, on the excning of 
the battle of May 27, shows of Company H two killed, 
nine wounded, and thirty-eight for duty. A muster roll 



94 ^/''^" I^iftcoitJi Xc\<.' Hanipsl/in- ]'oluntccrs. 

of Lieutenant Seavey before Port Hudson, June 30, 1863, 
shows only thirty-nine officers and men present for dut\', 
ahhoui;h this inchides some C()n\-alescents sent up from tlie 
Carrollton hospital since the date of that battle; thus, so 
earl}- in the siege, the compan}' is reduced to less than one 
half its original effective strength. This indicates the havoc 
that disease and death have already made in the ranks. 

In this comi:)an}- there were thirty-one from Sanbornton, 
thirteen from Londonderry, seven from Walpole, six from 
Gilford, four from Laconia, three from Lebanon, two each 
from Seabrook, Warren, Northfield, Hano\er, Bristol, and 
Alexandria, one each from the towns of Langdon and North- 
wood, one from Concord, and one from Jamaica, N. V. 

The following is the register of the company, exclusive of 
the five deserters, copied from muster roll of December 31, 
1862 : 

Jacob B. Sanborn, captain, age 41, Sanbornton. 

Alfred B. Seavey, first lieutenant, age 33, Gilford. 

\\^ashington Perkins, second lieutenant, age 40, London- 
derr\' ; wounded June 14, slight.* 

Thomas G. Ames, first sergeant, age 21, Northfield. 

Hiram B. Philbrook, second sergeant, age 23, Sanbornton.* 

Jason J. Burle}', third sergeant, age 28, Sanbornton. 

Albert B. Nye, fourth sergeant, age 27, Lebanon ; was 
taken from the " James S. Green " to hospital in New York. 

William 11. Philbrook, fifth sergeant, age 21, Sanbornton. 

John C Coombs, first corporal, age 23, Sanbornton. 

John L. Hubbard, second corporal, age 23, Walpole. 

Moses N. Holmes, third corporal, age 28, Londonderr\-.* 

Charles C. Ckirk, fourth corporal, age }^(S, Sanbornton.* 

Wesley S. Alaloon, fiftli corjioral, age 28, (iilford ; was 
wounded sexereh' in thigh AIa\' 27. 

lohn I), niake, sixth eoriioi-al, ave 18, Sanbornton. 



Roll ami Sketch of Coiupauy H. 95 

John E. Preston, seventh cori^oral, age 35, Gilford ; dis- 
charged for disabihty May 16, 1863. 

Charles McGregor, eighth corporal, age 19, LondonderrN . 

Adoniram J. Sanborn, fifer, age 22, Sanbornton. 

Brackett J. Baker, drunnner, age 18, Sanbornton.* 

Major A. Northrup, wagoner, age 24, Hanover.* 

Arley P. Alexander, age 19, Londonderry.* 

John M. Bixby, age 23, Walpole. 

Horace A. Burleigh, age 18, Sanbornton. 

Thomas Brown, age 21, Lebanon. 

James H. D. Blaisdell, age 39, Bristol ; wounded fatally in 
thigh May 27, 1863. 

Lucratus Y . Brainerd, age 25, Alexandria. 

George F. Bowers, age 18, Sanbornton. 

Charles W. Buzzell, age 25, Sanbornton. 

Edward Carpenter, age 18, Walpole. 

Noah Chattel, age 22, Laconia ; killed May 27, 1863. 

Dennis W. Cross, age 19, Lebanon. 

Charles R. Clark, age 44, Londonderry. 

Washington L Coburn, age 19, Londonderry.* 

Irving W. Coombs, age 19, Sanbornton. 

George Dawson, age 27, Sanbornton ; wounded in foot 
May 27, 1863. 

Thomas W. Donald, age 28, Sanbornton.* 

Moses P2. P^astman, age 2 1 , Sanbornton. 

William Fife, age 18, Northwood. 

Robert Finel, age 21, Seabrook, Can.* 

Aaron Goodwin, age 18, Warren.* 

Alphonso AL Gordon, age 42, Gilford. 

Horace D. Gregg, age 20, Londonderry. 

Daniel S. Gilman, age 27, Sanbornton. 

Dennis Griffin, age 25, Walpole. 

Patrick Hyde, age 3 i , Walpole. 

John Hicks, age ^6, Sanbornton. 



96 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire ]'o//niteers. 

William V. Holmes, a<4e 21, Lonclontlerry. 

John A. Hines, ai^e 21, Gilford. 

Samuel H. Jacobs, age 22, Sanbomton ; shot through leg 
May 27, 1863. 

Newell A. Kendall, age 31, Laugdon. 

Sylvester Kenniston, age 27, Laconia. 

Charles Lawrence, age 32, Walpole ; severe wound in 
thigh May 27, 1863. 

Martin L. Moore, age 30, Londonderry ; wounded June 14 
in foot. 

James G. Morrison, age 29, Londonderr)- ; killed Ma}- 
27. 1863. 

Hugh McGuire, age 21, Seabrook.* 

Albert McDaniels, age 19, Northfiekl* 

Daniel M. Philbrook, age 18, Sanbornton. 

John Perkins, age 35, Sanbornton. 

William J. Pond, age 40, Londonderry. 

Thomas Philbrook, age 2 1 , Sanbornton. 

Moses H. Rollins, age 18, Gilford. 

John Runnells, age "45'" Sanbornton; was 65. 

Winthrop H. .Smith, age 28, Laconia.* 

Horace P. Swain, age 2}^, Sanbornton.* 

John B. Shute, age 20, Sanbornton. 

Charles H. Sanborn, age 19, Sanbornton. 

Harlan P. .Sanborn, age 29, Sanbornton. 

John \'. -Sanborn, age 19, Sanbornton. 

John H. -Sanborn, age 19, Londonderry; fatallx' wounded 
May 2j. 1863. 

loseph J. -Shaw, age 21, Walpole. 

licniamin -Sweat, age 43, Hristol. 

John -S. -Sanborn, age 44, -Sanbornton. 

Samuel T. .Swain, age 20, Sanbornton ; wounded in head 
May 2j, 1863. 

Joseph .\. Templeton, age 25, IIano\er. 



Ro// aiui Skiic/i of Company H. 97 

IlL'nr\- 11. 'I'hornton, ai;c 22, Concord; wouiulcd in fore- 
head May 27, 1S63. 

John \\'iii;gin, cook, age 35, \\"arren. 

George \V. Webster, age 19, Lac(Miia. 

Uavid W. Welton, age 25, Alexandria; severe wound in 
hand June 14, 1863. 

iliram Webster, age 40, Londonderry; severe wound in 
shoulder May 2-j , 1863. 

James S. Walker, ago 26, Sanbornton. 

P21ijah Sanborn, age 43, Jamaica, N. V. ; band. 

Deserters: Kucher l^oisxert, Seabrook ; Theophil Paradis, 
Seabrook ; I'aul Mignot, Seabrook ; Charles (j rosette. Sea- 
brook ; k^rank Jones, Concord. 

All except the deserters reached the enemy's country — - 
nineteen men and Lieutenant Perkins by the "James S. 
(jreen," and the others, except Sergeant Nye, by the steamer 
" Prometheus." Sergeant Nye was conveyed to hospital on 
account of jaundice, in New York, on December 2, 1862, 
and the date of his arrnal in Louisiana is unknown. His 
constituti(jn was not a robust one ; his spirit, however, carried 
him through the trying ordeal of the siege of Port Hudson 
without a break. It is well remembered of him how, while 
lying in the dark wood in the night, and under the enemy's 
guns, he could repeat with the skill of an actor, long sections 
from Shakespeare and other of the dramatic poets. 

Those marked with a star are known to have served in 
other ortranizations. 



98 



The Fiftccuth Xcic Havipsliiir ]'oliiutiirs 




CAPTAIN PIXKHAM — Co. 



ROLL A\D PRELIMINARY SKKTCH OH 
COMPAXV I. 



George E. Pinkham, captain, age 34. Concord. 

Alvah M. Kimball, first lieutenant, age },2, Concord ; hon- 
orably discharged January 15, 1863.* 

James D. Moore, second lieutenant, age },-j , Concord; jiro- 
moted first lieutenant, \"ice Kimball resigned. 

John (). W'allingford, age 20, Somcrsworth ; non commis- 
sioned staff, appointed second lieutenant Januar}- iS. 1863.* 

C^harles Courtland, first sergeant, age 20. Rochester. 

Sylvester B. Wallace, second sergeant, age 20, MitUlleton ; 
fatally wounded June 13, 1863.* 

Erederick A. ( )rmc. third sergeant, age 25, Rochester. 

Jeremiah 11. W. Tebbetts, fourth sergeant, age 22, 
Rochester. 

David E. Nudd. filth sergeant, age 23, Hampton ; received 
a shot on his cartridge box June 13, 1863. 



Roll and S/x'c'tc/i of Company I. 99 

George \\\ Tricke}', first corporal, age 25, Rochester; 
wounded severel}' in arm and hand June 14, 1863.* 

Daniel C. Husse}-, second corix)ral, age 30, Rochester ; 
carried the state banner. 

James B. Stevens, third corj^oral, age 19, Rochester. 

Enos Rewitzer, fourth corporal, age 33, Rochester ; wounded 
severely in leg May 27, 1863.* 

Noah Tebbetts, fifth corporal, age 18, Rochester.* 

John Beecher, sixth corporal, age 32, Rochester; was in 
First New Ham})shire and in Nav)-.* 

John H. Roberts, seventh corporal, age 22, Barnstead. 

William Dunn, eighth corporal, age 34, Newton ; flesh 
wound in leg May 27, 1863. 

Addison, Jonathan W'., age 25, Newton.* 

Blaisdell, John \\ ., age 18, Rochester; severe flesh wound 
in left thigh June 14, 1863. 

Brown, Joseph E., age 28, Rochester ; lost several fingers 
of left hand June 14,1863. 

Babb, John W ., age 16, drummer bo)-, Rochester. 

Brown, Josiah, age 21, Rochester. 

Bickford, Da\id, age 27, Rochester. 

Bamford, Joseph, age 27, Rochester ; wounded in hand 
June 14, 1863.* 

Brigham, William H. B., age 21, Exeter.* 

Batchelder, George W., age 23, Exeter. 

Blake, Arthur B., age 18, Hampton.* 

Carter, Gideon, age 44, Exeter. 

Carter, William E., age 18, Exeter. 

Carter, Frederick \\ ., age 18, Exeter.* 

Carter, George H., age 18, Newton. 

Carter, Orrin D., age 23, Newton. 

Colony, Jacob, age 39, Rochester.* 

Currier, George M., age 27, Newton. 

Dunbrack, Thomas, Jr., age 19, Hampton. 

Life. 



lOO The Fiftcctith Xci^' Hani/s/iiir I'oluiitccrs. 

Klkins, Jonathan, a,^e 43. Hampton ; badl}- wounded in 
leg May 29, 1863. 

Fowler, Abel K., age 39, Newton.* 

Farrington, Joseph H., age 26, Rochester.* 

Foss, Alonzo H., age 37, Rochester. 

Gowen, Otis F., age }^'j , Rochester. 

Garland, John E., age 27, Rochester. 

Gadd, George \V., age 20, Exeter.* 

Greenleaf, Charles \V., age 18, Exeter. 

Godfrey, Jeremiah L., age 19, Hampton ; detailed to Fourth 
Massachusetts Battery, February 2-j , 1863. 

Godfrey, Charles, age 18, Hampton; slightly wounded in 
hand June i 3, 1863.* 

Goodwin, J^enjamin F., age 23, Hampton.* 

Goodwin, Daniel C, age 28, Newton. 

Flail, John F., age 28, Exeter. 

Hurd, John, age 44, Rochester ; all fingers of right hand 
shot off June 13, 1863.* 

Hayward, William, age 18, Rochester; detailed to Fourth 
Massachusetts Hattcrx', I^Y'bruar)- 27, 1863. After his dis- 
charge he regained his health, re-enlisted in the Nineteenth 
Massachusetts regiment; was eai^tured in June, 1864; was 
in Libbey, Belisle, and Andersonxille, then taken to Charleston, 
then to Florence and jiarolled, 1 )ecember, 1 864 ; captured 
with whole brigade at W'elden railroad.* 

Ho\t, Rufus A., age 22, Rochester; was through all the 
siege of I'ort Hudson, and afterwards ser\ed on the "Colo- 
rado" and "Winona"; was at l'~ort j-'isher and the .'-^antee 
Ri\er expetlition.* 

Hoine\', Charles (i., age 35, Rochester ; band. 

Hammett, Charles IC, age 19, Rochester. 

Hoiiie, Lewis V ., age 44, Rochester; was the father of 
J. 1). Home, who was the fii'st volunteer from Rochester and 
who serxed in the .Sixth Massachusetts, anil was in the Haiti- 
more riot April 1 (j, i 86 i .* 



Roll and Skiicli of Company I . loi 

Jenniss, Charles, Jr., age 34, Rochester ; wounded.* 

Lea\itt, George \V., age 18, Hampton. 

Laird, Robert B., age 32, Hampton. 

Lamprey, John D., age 19, Hampton ; killed May 27. 1863. 

McCrillis, John G., age 32, Rochester. 

Mahoney, John, age 27, Rochester; sexere wound in l)reast 
and shoulder May 27, 1863. 

Moulton, Joseph E., age 24, Newton. 

Morse, John W., age 27, Exeter. 

Morse, Abner, age 21, Exeter ; killed May 27, 1863. 

Newlands, Solomon N., age 20, Rochester ; mortally 
wounded in breast May 2"] , 1863. 

Nicholson, George H., age 18, Rochester.* 

Nudd, William, age 44, Exeter. . 

Peasley, Albert M., age 20, Newton. 

Peasley, Richard W., age 19, Newton. 

Parker, Benjamin P., age 44, Exeter.* 

Pike, John C, age 30, Rochester. 

Prescott, George A., age 26, Exeter. 

Place, Warrington D., age 19, Dover. 

Ouimby, Philip D., age 36, Newton. 

Richardson. Gilman, age 29, Newton. 

Shaw, Jackson, age 28, Rochester ; wounded severely in 
left hand June 13, 1S63.* 

Sinclair, John A., age 18, Exeter; wounded slightly in 
head May 27, 1863.* 

Sinclair, John T., age 44, Exeter ; discharged for dis- 
ability May 1 5, 1863. 

Swain, George M., age 23, P2xeter ; severe wound in leg 
May 27, 1863. 

Smith, John I., age 18, Exeter. 

Smith, Jeremiah \\\, age 30, Exeter. 

Tucker, Albert M., age 44, Newton ; wounded in head 
May 27, 1863. 



102 The Fifteenth \ei^' Hampshire I'oliinteers. 

Tucker, Lewis G., age i8, Newton. 
Thurston, George K., age 20, Exeter. 
Tuttle, James S., age 19, Exeter.* 

Welch, Hiram, age 40, Xewton ; wounded in arm and 
shoulder May 27, 1863.* 

W'illey, Went worth, age 25, Rochester. 
Wardwell, John II., age 18, Rochester. 
Whitehouse, Amos W., age 44, Rochester.* 
Young, George E., age 20, Rochester. 
Gilman, Erank G., age 20, Rochester. 
Hatch, Mansfield P., age 28, Xewton. 

Ninety all told — thirty-eight from Rochester, twent}' from 
Exeter, sixteen from Newton, ten from Hampton, three from 
Concord, and one each from Somersworth, iJoxer, and Mid- 
dleton. Thirty-eight were twenty-two years of age and under ; 
they averaged twenty-nine years of age. Six deserted, of 
whom two only returned to duty. One man was left behind 
sick — John T. Sinclair — in New York, and was discharged 
for disability at Convalescent Camp, X'irginia, May 5, 1863. 
This shows eighty-five to have reached the seat of war. They 
sailed by the "Prometheus." ( )f these, fl\e were killed in 
acti(;n or mortally wounded, seven died of disease, and 
thirteen were severely wounded. At least twenty-nine served 
in other organizations, cither prexioush' or subsec|ucnt to 
their serxice in the bifteenth Regiment. 

Company I expended in the siege of Port Hudson, from 
the morning of May 2j to July 8, 1863, 8,580 ball cartridges. 

In accounting the dead onl\- those are recorded who died 
during the term or immediately after their discharge. Mam' 
must have died of injuries incident to the service, in after 
\ears, of which we can gi\e no account. Hut one such 
notable case was that of the intrepid I'jios Rewitzer of this 
comj)any. Prior to iiis American citizensliip, he liad serxed 



Roil and Sketch of Company I. 103 

ten full years in the liaxarian army. His first enlistment in 
the L'nitetl States serxiee was in the Third New Hampshire, 
wherein he ser\-ed for upwards of a year, and was therefrom 
discharged for injuries received to one of his legs. He never 
fully reco\ered from this. At Port Hudson, on May 27, as 
will appear, he was again sexerely wc^unded in the leg by a 
shell, which necessitated a dual ami^utation. The wound 
never healed, and after )ears of extreme suffering he suc- 
cumbed to his multiplied injuries, answering to the last 
summons of a soldier, at Rochester, N. H., on the ninth day 
of September, 1889. How many instances of fortitude and 
heroic suffering, of a kindred nature to this, there may exist, 
we can never know. 

L'l^on the organi;^ation of the company a sword was pre- 
sented to Captain I'inkham, the money for the purchase of 
the same having been raised by circulating a subscription 
paper among the bo}'s of his company on October 21. This 
sword was presented on the evening of the twenty-fifth, in 
Rochester, during a furlough, with public ceremonies. At 
the same n-.eeting a sword was j^resented to Lieutenant 
Kimball, and also to Leonard V. Place, of Company L 
Third New Hampshire Volunteers, who had been promoted 
to a lieutenancy. 

The deserters were Mansfield P. Hatch, musician, deserted 
December 2, 1862, at Long Island; George M. Currier, 
deserted October 20, 1862, at Concord ; Josiah l^rown, 
deserted October 20, 1862, at Concord; James 'Puttie, 
deserted October 30, 1862, at Concord. He served in the 
navy afterward, probably returning voluntarily from desertion. 
George A. Prescott deserted October 20, 1862, at Concord, 
but returned xoluntaril}- to duty March 14, 1863, under the 
President's j^iroclamation, and George AP Swain deserted 
October 25, at Concord, and also returned \-oluntarily under 
the President's proclamation, March 14, 1863. His name will 



I04 riic Fiftccutli Xiic IlaviJ-shiir \'oIii]itccrs. 

be found with the companx's honored dead, he h.axin^^- been 
mortall}' wounded at Port lludson, AIa\- 2"] , i<'^<")3. 

One in exer)' sexenteen was killed in battle; a little less 
than one in ten died of disease ; more than one in eiL;ht were 
xxounded, and the deaths and easualties all told are txx-enty- 
four in eighty-fixx' ; thirteen deaths out of ei^^htx-fixe, and at 
least thirty serx-ed in other or^^-anizations. 

The killed or mortallx' wounded xx-eix' Ser^t. Sylxester H. 
W'allace. Solomon X. Xewlands, Abner Morse, John ]). 
Lamprey, and (ieori;e M. Sxxain. The sexerelx' xvounded 
xvere Lieut. John (). Wallin^ford. Seri^t. Lnos Rewitzer, 
Geor-e W. Triekey, Daniel !-'. Xudd. Hiram Weleh, John A. 
Sinelair, Jackson Shaw, John Mahonex', Joseph Hamford, 
Joseph L. Brown, John W", Hlaisdell, John MeCrillis, and 
William Dunn. 

The Rochester boxs left Rochester on last train October 
3 ; arrixed at Concord <S v. .xi. ; i;ot blankets, etc.; i;()t to 
barracks at 9; cold and damj) ; no straxv — slept on bare 
boards; October 13. chose I'inkham captain; ( )ctober 14. 
drexv uniforms; October 15, furloui;hed for six daxs ; 
October 21, monc}' raised from comi')an}" to bux" sword tor 
caiUain. 



I 



I\(ill and Skcicli of Comf-auv K . 105 

ROLL AM) I'kl-:L1ML\AR\- SKincil OI-' 
COAIIWXA' K. 



Henjamin !•". Hall, captain, a.^c 2<S, SaLm, 

{'^bridge (i. Wood, first lieutenant, ai;c 24. Hanijjslead. 

Wallace T. Larkin, second lieutenant. aL;e 12, Chester.*" 

Austin, Milton F., age 21, Salem. 

Banks, Edward I'., age 20, Alstead. 

Hai'rett, William, age ''^'j , IIam])stead. 

Bodwell, John P., age 38, Salem. 

J^rown, llenr)' N., age 18, Chester. 

Brown, Marston L., age 18, Chester; returned fiom New 
\'ork general hospital March 6, 1863. 

Brown, Milt(jn S., age 18, Chester. 

Buzzell, Albey C, age 21, Lanxille. 

Buzzell, Lendon C, age 18, Danville.* 

Calef, Joseph J., second corporal, age 33, nam]:)stead. 

Carew, William !{., fifth corporal, age 21. Salem ; ai)])ointed 
sergeant March i, 1863. 

Childs, l^merson H., age 25, Chester. 

Clay, Da\id h"., age 20, Chester. 

Cluff, I'^ranklin W., age 20, Salem. 

Cluff, Isaac N., age 23, Salem. 

Cluff, Le\-erett C, age 27, Salem. 

Currier, l^enjamin (L, age 4 i , ILnni)stead. 

Currier, John S., age 19, Chester. 

Davis, Aaron IL, si.xth corpoial, colors, age 26, Iiam]> 
stead. 

Davis, William IL, first sergeant, age 25, llampstead. 

Dolloff, Cyrus V ., age 29, Salem.* 

Edwards, Albert F. B., eighth corjxtral, age 18, C"hester.* 

Forsaith, Matthew, age 44, Chester. 

1^'oster, James H., age 25, Salem. 



io6 The Fifteenth .Ve:e Hampshire I'olnnteers. 

I-"rcnch, Uaxid C, ai^e 39, Chester. 

I'"i"eneh, Hiram, ai;e 21, Dan\ille. 

r^rost, Lorenzo, band, ai;e 29, Atkinson.* 

Frost, Nathaniel, band, ai;e 32, Hampstead. 

(jeorge, Andrew J., age 21, Sandown. 

Gordon, George C, second sergeant, age 27, Salem. 

Gould, Charles \V., age 23, Salem. 

Griffin, Charles \\\, first corporal, age 27, Danville. 

Griffin, Moses, age ^^j , Danxille. 

Hall, Charles H., age 21, .Salem. 

Hanson, Collis M., age 2^, Salem ; a]:ipointed corporal 
March i, 1863.* 

Haseltine, John A., fourth cor}x)ral, age 42, Chester. 

Hutchins, Leonard, age 42, Hampstead. 

h-eson, Franklin P., age 2"] , Atkinson. 

Johnson, Obadiah O., age 20, Danville. 

Johnson, William LL, age 19, Hampstead. 

Kelley, Simon C, age 24, Salem. 

Kelley, Edward H., age 18, Salem; killed June i 1. 1863. 

Kelley, George L., seventh corporal, age 26, Salem.* 

Kimball, Charles G., age 20, Salem. 

Ladd, James J\L, age 21, Danville. 

Ladtl, Josiah T., age 18, Danxille ; discharged for disability 
ALiy 3, 1863. 

Lee, ( )li\-er, age 33, .Salem. ^^^ 

Lowell, AleKin, age 21, Salem.* 

Mansfield, William !*'., age 18, Salem. 

Mai'ston, Daniel, fourth sergeant, age ^2, .Sandown. 

Matthew, John, age 21, Danxille. 
'Mayo, llein-y .\., age 30, .Sandown. 

McArthur, John C., age :-,- , Salem.* 

Mead, George .M. !)., age 18, Chester. 

Merrick, .Arthur L., color sergeant, age },2, .Atkinson ; 
weighed two hundred and fift}- [jounds ; fifth sergeant ; 
sexerelv wounded in tliigh .Ma\' 2~ , 1863. 



Roll and Sketch of Ctutipany K. xq-j 

Morrison, Iddo K., wagoner, age 35, Salem. 
Mosher, Edward B., age 44, Salem ; killed June 14, 1863. 
Nichols, Lucien AI., age 22, Hampstead. 
Nichols, Osa D., age i<S, Hampstead.* 
Noyes, Alba, age 22, Atkinson. 

Osgood, Samuel V., age 29, Chester ; arrived from New 
York March 13.* 

Pattee, George H., age 20, Salem.* 

Perkins, Charles G., age 21, Atkinson. 

Pressey, Albert A., age 19, Sandown. 

Prince, John L., age 18, Salem. 

Richards, Orran S., age 19, Epping.* 

Robinson, Curtis B., age 31, Sandown.* 

Sanborn, D. La Roy, musician, age 18, Chester. 

Sanborn, David, age 34, P"'remont. 

Sanborn, George G., age 27, Sandown. 

Sanborn, Matthew G., age 27, Sandown.* 

Sargent, Aaron D., age 32, Sandown.* 

Sloan, David, third corporal, age 34, Salem. 

Smith, Erastus, age 21, Alstead.* 

Smith, James \V., age 31, Salem. 

Spofford, Benjamin Y ., age 23, Chester. 

Stanton, William L., age 20, Salem. 

Stevens, Luther C, third sergeant, age 31, Chester.* 

Tabor, William L. S., age 19, Hampstead.* 

Tilton, Franklin, age 22, Sandown. 

West, John W., age 29, Chester.* 

Williams, John, age 24, Hampton. 

Woodbury, Henry W., age 44, Salem. 

John Matthews deserted October 31, 1862, at Concord; 
Josiah Ladd deserted December 2, 1862, at Long Island, 
N. Y. ; John Williams deserted October 31, 1862, at Concord. 

Marston L. Brown and Samuel V. Osgood, who were left 
sick at New York, rejoined the company March 10, 1863. 



io8 The Fiftccuth Xcic Hampshire ]'olii}ttccrs. 

James AI. Lackl was left hehiiicl sick at Xew York, and was 
there (lischari;ecl lor (lisabilitw Januar_\' 20, 1.S63. 

Tliis lea\es ei^ht\" officers and men to reach the South. 
This compan)- was detailed as sharpshooters on May 27, 1863, 
and thoui^di occupying; a hazardous position, and sharply 
employed, lost no men that day. Afterwards during the 
siege, two were killed ; during the ser\'ice fourteen died of 
disease ; nineteen served in other organizations ; thirt}"-six 
were twenty-two )-ears and under of age. 

The first death in the comi:)an\- was that of William Y . 
Mansfield, at Camj^ Parapet, IMarch 27, 1S63. His body 
was sent North. 

1^'rom Salem there were twent\'-nine ; Chester, sexenteen ; 
Hampstead, thirteen ; Danxille, nine ; Sandown, nine ; .Atkin- 
son, fi\"e ; Alstead, two ; I^)ping and h'remont, one each. 
Total, eighty-six. 

Curtis B. Robinson was discharged for disabilit}' l^~ebruar_\- 
I 2, 1863, at New Orleans, by surgeon, and John C. McArthur, 
Collis M. Hanson, George H. Pattee, Oliver Lee, and Erastus 
Smith, by General Andrews, at Port Hudson, July 24, 1863, 
to re-enlist. While at the Concord camp this compan)- was 
rated as excelling ph)-sicall_\- and in general deportment and 
(hill. It is doubtful if a finer bod}' of men or more intelligent 
or with nobler purposes ever left the state. 

A sword was j^resented to Lieutenant Wood, Noxember 4, 
1862, in the ex'ening, at the Concord barracks. 

The star in all cases marks those who are known to ha\e 
serxed in other organizations ; but some nuist ha\e been 
omitted, and olhei's who re-enlisted outside the state cannot 
be traced. 



Roll and Sketch of Conipany K. 109 

Co.Mi'AW K Notes. 

Wallace T. Larkin was detached July 25 for special duty 
at headquarters, Port Hudson, La., and remained there. 

Arthur L. Merrick at New (Orleans general hos])ital, July 
31, 1863 ; did not come home with the regiment. 

Leonard Plutchins detailed as hospital nurse. 

Henry W. Woodbury detailed as hospital cook. 

Lorenzo Frost detailed for band. 

Nathaniel Frost detailed for band. 

Benjamin G. Currier detailed for band. 

Iddo Morrison detailed as teamster. 

John R. Kodwell detailed as cook. 

David C. French detailed as cook. 

William E. Carew promoted fi'om fifth corporal to fourth 
sergeant March i . 

Hiram h^rench left at Buffalo sick (muster roll of August 1 3). 

L. iM-ost left at Worcester sick. 

x\ndrew J. George left at Memphis. 

Melvin Low^ell at Salem sick (muster roll of August 13). 

Henry A. Mayo sick at Sandown (muster roll of August i 3). 

Osa D. Nichols sick at Hampstead (muster roll of 
August 13). 

November 7. At 2 o'clock \\ .m., while on battalion drill 
at the Concord camp it began to snow, and snow fell fast till 
into the night. 

No\-ember 11. Battalion drill, with knapsacks slung and 
full equipments. 



The Fifteenth Xeie Hampshire I'oliDiteers. 
L. FROST = THE BAND. 



The band was organized early at Concord. Prior to this 
all regiments could have bands of twenty-four pieces under 
the law, enlisted as such and as separate organizations ; but 
as the war grew to great proportions, b)- act of Congress all 
such were discharged and disallowed as unnecessary and 
cumbersome adjuncts. The band of the h'ifteenth was 
accordingly formed by detailing men from the different com- 
panies ; this evasion of the law was permitted by those in 
authorit)'. Our sturdy old governor took a great interest in 
its formation, and sent for Lorenzo Frost, who was the prime 
mo\-er in its organization, se\eral times, and held interxiews 
with him in relation to it and in regard to ])ro\iding it with 
instruments belonging to the state that had prexiously been 
used in the Fifth Regiment. These, however, could not be 
found, and instruments were afterwards purchased b}- the 
state. The officers of our regiment employed Asa Brigham, 
a i:)ri\-ate citizen of Flxeter, as a band leader, and raised for 
him by subscription a lieutenant's pa\- of S125 per month. 
The band did not pla}' much or. the ocean — the \()}-age 
was so tempestuous. Some disagreement or friction arising, 
Brigham was discharged soon after the landing at Cairollton, 
and upon liis dismissal Lorenzo h'rost, of Company K. was 
chosen to tlie leaderslup h}' unanimous \-ote of the members, 
and i-emainecl sucli to tlie end. h'rost was happil)' fitted, 
both by nature and training, for this i)osition. Ilis militar)' 
career is one of great interest, and should go briefly on 
record as sliowing the patriotism of those dark tlaxs of war 
and blood. 1 le had enlisted in tlie Mfteentli as a prixate. 
not expecting or seeking to Ix' detailed as a musician, and 
well knowing that 1)\- law tliere were to be no more bands, 
lie JKul i)re\iousl\' served in the Twelfth Massachusetts — 



The Band. i i i 

the Fletcher Webster* regiment — enHsting as a prixate the 
\-ery next day after the Sixth Massachusetts was mobbed in 
Baltimore. He was soon appointed a corporal. He was 
afterwards transferred to the Eleventh Massachusetts, and 
after his discharge from the Fifteenth he again enlisted in 
the Eleventh Massachusetts, with the understanding that he 
should serve in the band. The instrument which the state 
of New Hampshire had furnished him for the serxice of the 
Fifteenth he turned o\er to the state on his return, but it 
had been sent back to him as a jiresent, and this same 
instrument he carried in the Elexcnth Massachusetts to the 
close of the war. He was present with this same instrument 
at Appomattox when Lee surrendered. On this great day 
he was with his band in advance of the whole arm}', with 
several other bands. He saw Grant pass to meet Lee. The 
general rode in an ambulance with four horses attached and 
being dri\-en at the height of their speed. A mounted 
bugler rode in advance, playing "open ranks." Soon after 
General Meade came galloping by with his full staff. He 
was greatly elated, and swinging his hat, " Xo more guard 
duty, boys ! " he said. All the assembled bands struck \\\) in 
a general and spontaneous outburst of enthusiasm. 

Frost had been a drill master at Fort Warren in Boston 
harbor while serving in the Eleventh Massachusetts, and 
drilled his company at the Concord camp and at Carrollton, 
and also drilled other companies some, besides instructing 
the officers. He had serxed in a band for a ])eriod of one 
and a half years pre\-ious to enlisting, and had a thorough 
knowledge of all the intricacies of dress parade and guard 
mounting. 

Under its new leadership the band became very proficient, 
and was much sought for on many (occasions. It later came 
into great favor with Gen. Neal Dow, and was honored as his 

*Col. Fletcher Web.ster of this recrinieiit was the .son of Daniel Web.ster. 



1 12 Tlic Fiftccutlt .\ci^< Ilainp.diirc I'olnntccrs. 

l)rii;a(lc band. They were quartered outside the regimental 
sentinels, and enjoyetl many fax'ors and liberties. At one 
time, ho\ve\er, the_\- nearly lost these pri\-ile.<;es ; for haxiui;- 
been asked to pla\- at a i;arden on a Sunday evening, April 
26, in Carrollton, the\' accepted the inxitation, as it seems, 
not suspecting but that all thmgs would pass off in a manner 
befitting the place and time, l^ut the occasion pro\-ed quite 
festix'e, and at one time re\"ol\'ers were drawn between citizens 
and soldiers and one man was wounded. Knowledge of 
these festi\-ities reaching the great temperance advocate in 
command, he, on AIa\' 2, extended the guard line so as to 
include the band within its cordon. JUit the order was 
soon rexoked at the solicitation of Frost, he re])resenting that 
their liberty was necessary on man\- accounts, and especially 
that thc\- might go freely into the neighboring gro\-es to 
rehearse and {practice. Idie band often serenaded officers, 
and played at a ball in Jefferson. It played at brigade drill, 
at guard mount, and all dress jiarades and marches, and at 
soldiers' obsec|uies. On these sad occasions the}' p-layed 
" (ireenx'ille " and similar old tunes and dirges of their own 
|)reparation, and with muffled ilrums on the wa\' to the grax'c 
and ([uicksteps on the return. These funerals occurred at 
times as often as three per daw 

At brigade drills the general had the Ixind so trained that 
at a wave of his hand it would cease ]ila_\ing while he gave his 
order, and then resume again without losing the stc]"). 'I"he 
Twent\-si.\th Connecticut also had a band, but it was al\va}-s 
ordered to report to l-'rost, and both it and all the eom])any 
musicians of the whole brigade two to each company — were 
under his connnand in times of battle to carry off from the 
held the dead and wounded, and cai'c for them in the hospitals. 
This is a sad ])art of a musician's dutw and is often as hazardous 
as that of the combatants themsehes. rhese duties were b)- 
them nobl\- and faillifull\- performed, as will ai)peai- in its 



The r>aud. i i 3 

proper place. Va\ route home, Frost was left at Worcester 
very sick, antl could not be present at the muster out of the 
regiment. The last time the band exer played was on May 
25, two days before the first battle at Port Hudson, and 
when its musical career terminated very suddenly and under 
rather amusing circumstances. After that it was engaged in 
hard and unremitting work at the front. 



14 ^lit-^ Fifteenth Xci^' Hanipshiir \'olu)itccrs. 

THE FIELD AND STAFF. 



Col. John W. Kingman, age 40, Durham ; enlisted as 
private October 2, 1862 ; appointed colonel ( )ctobcr 7, 1862. 

Lieut. -Col. William Weed, age 48. .Sandwich ; not mus- 
tered. 

Lieut. -Col. George ^\^ Frost, age 38, Newmarket ; enlisted 
October 2, 1862 ; appointed lieutenant-colonel October 7, 
1862 ; honorably discharged on surgeon's certificate of dis- 
ability, by Major-General Banks, February 14, 1863. 

Lieut. -Col. Henry W. Blair, age 27, Plymouth ; enlisted as 
private October 2, 1862 ; appointed major October 7, 1S62 ; 
appointed lieutenant-colonel April 8, 1863. 

Maj. George W. Frost ; not mustered. 

Maj. Henry W'. Blair. 

Maj. John Aldrich, age 38, Gilford ; jiromoted from captain 
Company A, April 8, 1863, vice Blair ]iromoted to lieutenant- 
colonel. 

Adjt. Edward E. Pinkham, age 21, Laconia ; enlisted as 
private October 6, 1862 ; appointed adjutant October 18, 1862. 

O. M. h-a A. Moody, age 33, Dover; appointed October 
3, 1862. 

Surg. Jeremiah V. Hall, age 43, Wolieborough ; ai)i)ointed 
October 2"^, 1862; honorabl}- discharged b)- Major-Ciencral 
l^anks. Januar}- 19, 1863. 

.Surg. Carl H. Horsch, age 40. Dox'er ; a]ipoiiited januar_\' 
20, 1863; joined regiment March 9, 1863. 

Asst. Surg, l^enjamin \. Towle, age 33, Xewmarket ; 
appointed ( )ctol)er 14, 1862. 

Asst. Surg. Joseph IC. Jaiurin, age 23, lOxeter ; apjiointed 
October 28, 1862. 

Chap, Edwin M. Wheelock, age 33, I)o\er ; ap]iointed 
October 10, 1862. 



The Field and Staff. i i 5 

NOX-COMMISSIOXED StAFF. 

John O. Wallingford, sergeant-major ; appointed second 
lieutenant Company I, January iS, 1863, \ice James D. 
Moore, promoted first lieutenant. 

Jeremiah H. W. Tebbetts became sergeant-major January 
18, 1863 ; promoted from fourth sergeant Company I. vice 
J. O. Wallingford, promoted second lieutenant Company I. 

Willard C. Kempton, hospital steward ; appointed October 
7, 1862. 

George \\\ Hobbs, quartermaster-sergeant ; appointed 
October 3, 1862. 

Josiah B. Kimball, commissary-sergeant ; appointed October 
2, 1862; discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability 
May 16, 1863. 



ii6 



The Fifteenth Xew Hampshire Vo/unteers. 




COL. JOHN W. KINGMAN. 



Col. John W'. Kincmw was Ijorn Januai"\- i, 1821, in tlie 
town ol" Harrington, N. II. 1 1 is taniil\- connections, on botli 
the maternal antl jxiternal sides, run hack to the earliest 
colonial settlement of the state. His i^reat-grandmother, on 
the mother's side, was L}(lia "Brewster, of Portsmouth, a 
descendant of i'dder William Brewster, of Mayflower memory. 
She was the wife of Col. Josejih Hicks, of Dover (afterwards 



TJtc Field and Stajf. 1 1 7 

Madbiirv). Colonel Hicks was a prominent man in liis cla\ , 
and took part in the militar)' and ci\ic affairs of the colony 
prior to the Re\-olutionary war. He raised a company of 
volunteers, in 1745, to join the expedition under General 
Pepperill for the capture of Louisburg from the French, which 
was the most notable and important military achievement 
performed by the New England colonies before the Revolution. 

On his father's side he was related to the family of Dr. 
Benjamin Waterhouse, of Cambridge, Mass., a professor in 
Harvard uni\'ersitv, who was the first to introduce vaccination 
for small po.x into this country ; and also to the Webster 
family, from which Daniel Webster sprung. His ancestors, 
on both sides, were earnest participants in the war of the 
Revolution, and rendered substantial service both civil and 
military during that terrible struggle. 

Colonel Kingman spent his early da)'s on the farm in 
Madbury, which descended to his mother from its first settle- 
ment by the father of Col. Joseph Hicks, some time in the 
latter part of 1600. He fitted for college at Phillips 
Exeter Academy, and graduated at Harvard university in the 
class of 1843. He studied law in the ofifice of Daniel 
Webster, in Boston, and commenced practice in Cincinnati, 
O., but returned to Xew Hampshire in 1847, "^^^^ opened an 
office in Dover. In 1849 he married a daughter of Hon. 
Daniel M. Christie, and shortly after formed a co-partnership 
with him, and continued in the active practice of law until he 
was commissioned as colonel of the Fifteenth Regiment New 
Hampshire Volunteers, by Goxernor Berr}', in the fall of 
1862. He organized and drilled his regiment at Concord, 
and in November, 1862, was ordered to New York city to 
join General Banks' expedition to New Orleans. 

In the spring of 1869, soon after the inauguration of 
General Grant as president of the United States, Cokniel 
Kingman was appointed and commissioned as associate justice 
of the supreme court of the new territory of Wyoming. He 



ii8 



'Flic Fiftccuth Xcw tiaiiipshirc I \)luntccrs. 



I 



removed to Wyoming, and ser\ed one term of four }'ears on 
the bench of that court. He then resumed his law practice 
in that territory, where he remained until 1S83, when he 
moved to Cedar Falls, in the state of Iowa, where he engaged 
in manufacturing, and where he now resides. 

Colonel Kingman has three sons and two daughters. His 
oldest son graduated at West Point at the head of his class, 
and is now a captain in the l^ngineer Corps of the United 
States army. His second son is engaged with him in manu- 
facturing at Cedar Falls. His youngest son graduated at the 
State School of Mines in Colorado, and is settled at Helena, 
Montana, as a mining engineer. 




IJKUT.-COL. GKORGF W. FROST. 



Was born in Salem, Mass., September 14, iiSj4. He was 
the son of Capt. John b'rost, and Luc\- I'rue l-"rost. His 
father was for many _\ears a widel_\- known and successful 
sea ca]-)tain. 'I"he son, when (|uite a young man, migrated to 
Newmarket, X. H., and found there his futuix' wife and 




UKNKY \V. lU.AIK. 



The Field and Staff. 119 

permanent home. He was at first employed as a clerk of 
the Newmarket Manufacturing Company, but rose to be 
its trusted agent, and ser\ed in that capacity for nearly 
thirty years. From motives of patriotism he sacrificed this 
honoral^le and lucratix'c position, in the darkest hour of his 
country's peril, and sought the tented field. He was 
appointed majcn' of the h'iftecnth regiment, October 7, 1862, 
but before being so mustered was advanced to its lieutenant- 
colonelency, and mustered as such on the eighteenth of the 
same month. He resigned on account of disability due to 
climatic fever, on the fourteenth of the following February. 
He died June 30, 1879, at Coney Island, X. V., and was 
buried at Newmarket on July 5, with military and civic 
honors. He was highly esteemed and greatly mourned by 
all. Business was suspended on the day of the funeral. 
Company G, of the National Guard, performed escort duty 
at his funeral obsequies, and was commanded on the occa- 
sion by their captain, J. J. Hanson, who served under Colonel 
Frost as sergeant of Company D in the Fifteenth New 
Hampshire, and afterwards for many )'ears in the mills of 
which he was the a^ent. 



LIEUT.-COL. HENRY W. BLAIR. 



A weighty responsibility falls to all historians, in that the 
fame and repute of those in whose story he deals rests with 
him. His pen can raise a reputation above the true charac- 
ter of the individual in hand, or sink it far below its rightful 
place and level. However high his purpose, or conscientious, 
or howe\er honest and impartial his intent, or untiring his 
industry and research, he may yet well mistrust his ability to 
do exact justice to all. The utmost to be hoped for is that, 
with great care, he may avoid express injustice to any, even 



I 20 The Fifteenth Xei^< Heimpshire J 'olunteers. 

though he fail to accord them, in all instances, their full and 
proper dues ; and, besides, it is a delicate task to write of 
those who still dwell with us in perishable temples of cla}-. 
lUit what is written of them is an immortal i:)art that shall 
endure in time while the soul li\cs on in eternitw It were 
irremediable if that immortal i^art were falsel}' set down. In 
this \-iew one should tremble to reflect what an idle oi- inad- 
vertant word may do. And what, now, would seem adulation 
and flatter}' to the lix-ing, might be highl}' aj^propriate and 
fitting onl)' a few da)s hence, when death ensues and the}- 
li\-e only in these annals and the memor}' of the good and 
brave deeds the}' ha\'e done. One is freer to speak of the 
departed, especially those who gave their young li\es to a 
great cause. Their memories are, indeed, precious legacies ; 
but not more so than that of their living comrades will 
presently become. It was b}' the mere chance of war that 
those who survive did not make as great a sacrifice as those 
who fell. lUit \"er}' man}' of our comrades ha\e alread\' gone 
from earth, and may be thus freel}- spoken of ; and all who 
still live in these latter days are in the evening of life, and 
verge upon the brink of eternit}'. We should, then, write of 
our dead and of our lix'ing also, in a measu.re as though we 
wrote in the future, and oni}' for those who coiiie after 
us to enjo}' the goodl}' heritage established and maintained 
b}' the heroism of their fathers. 

It is not our purpose to set forth the ci\il career of 
our lieutenant-colonel ; this work, properl}', has to do with 
his military services oiil\'. And \et a brief personal sketch 
is thought to be admissible here for such of our comrades as 
have risen to positions of honor and trust iii public life, or 
become otherwise conspicuous because of theii' high character 
and abilities. He, though ph}'sicall\' slight in the braxe old 
days, rose afterwai'ds, not oiil\' in stature, but in other 
respects, to be a giant among men and stand like the 



I'hc Field and Staff. 1 2 i 

princely Saul of Tarsus, head and shoulders al)()\-c his fellows. 
His life has been a busy one, and his publie work so various, 
so multitudinous, and so important and far reaching, that it 
could scarce be mentioned in the brief space allotted to it in 
these pages. It will ne\er be known to the busy present, 
nor fully appreciated by the bustling future. Like us, they 
will accept their blessings, nor pause to ask iroxn whence thev 
spring, or who bled or died that they might be. 

In jMivate life he sinks himself from sight and thinks onh- 
of the good of others ; in public life he was the statesman 
always, and because of his honesty and incorruptibilit\' 
remained poor. The very fact of his povert}' is indisputable 
evidence of his official rectitude, and should be the highest 
mark and token of his honor. As to his soldiership, the 
onl)' criticisms e\'er heard were that he was ambitious and 
exacting in matters of obedience, and drill, and discipline, and 
brax'C and dashing to a fault in time of battle; all of which, 
in a soldier, are virtues of the highest character. With him, 
in those young days, it seemed to some there ne\'er came a 
time when discretion was the better part of \alor. The 
orders were "forward" always, and the skulker had better 
ha\-e fallen on the field than meet him afterwards. But this 
porti(jn of his career, and that of his comrades in arms, it is 
the purpose of this work to set forth. 

His high character in public life is indicated in his reasons 
for declining an United States district judgeship. A con- 
temj^orary says of this : 

" When urged by President Harrison to accept the place, 
he, realizing his pecuniary embarrassments, made this charac- 
teristic reply: 'Our hopes of justice depend upon the 
independence and incorruptibilit}' of the judiciar}'. The 
constitution requires that the judges be chosen from men as 
able and impartial as the lot of humanity will admit. While 
a judge ma\- not be wealth)-, he shoukl be independent, for 



122 'f/ic Fifteen t/i Xt'ic Hauipsliirc Vol/iiitccrs. 

otherwise his own crctlitor may be a party before him ai;"ainst 
some poor and humble citizen whose right even the best judge 
might guard less sacredly because of the secret power of the 
wealth}' suitor o\er the court.' To the self-vuged objection, 
perhaps ne\er heard before from a })erson iMojiosed to be so 
greatly benefitted by an appointment, the president could 
make no reply except to say that Mr. Blair was right." 

It has been well said that he is not to be turned from the 
]nu-suit of an end when il has been concluded uj^on and 
adjudged right and necessar}-, and for the general weal. No 
fear could awe nor fa\c)r swer\e him from an high purpose, 
or his c(;ncci:)tion of ckit\', when once so delilx'ratch' fixed, 
and one whose eciuanimit)' n(jthing C(nild disturb or ruffle, 
and whom none could wrong or abuse to an extent that he 
would e\"cn dream of resentment or rc\cnge ; one who would 
not think the guilt of wronging another woultl be less because 
that other had wn.nged him ; who would stej) aside rather 
than crush the busy ant in his }\athwa}-, and submit without 
plaint or murnuu" to all ]xdn, inic;uit\', or wrong, rather than 
himself do injury to the lunublest of (lod's creatures, or in 
the least degree increase their tribulations and sorrows; one 
slow to wrath, but once his blooil was stirrctl would bear 
himself like the Alcides of ancient story. All, friend and 
flic alike, are regarded as brothers, each with his grievous 
burden i)ressing blindl)- on in a great and nnsterious race 
thi'ough an hard world, where an helping hand shoukl alwax's 
be held out, and where i)il\' should extend to that narrow and 
inconsiderate one who essax s to do us wrong, in that e\ery 
e\il woi'd or i\K:c(\ nuist miss its loft\- mark, and in nature's 
wide econonn- return to plague its inxentor ; and one such 
because ot his own guilelessness, as would ne\cr suspect e\il 
in another till shocked at its tlisclosure, and then could 
scarce belie\e it true; dwelling in a world where naught 



The I^'icld and Staff. 123 

should ever be set down in malice, where all vengeance 
shotdd be left to heaven, and where i;reat and generous souls 
mav soar like eagles in the bright realms (jf air, abo\e the 
sight and comprehension of those who merely grovel on the 
earth as on a dunghill, seeking selfish and material ends, and 
from such lofty regions behold the universal cosmos, and 
\iew the world as one vast plain whereon poor humanity 
t(jils beneath the hot sun as in an harvest field. No malicious 
shaft can reach to injure such who are the true philosophers 
of life and benefactors of their kind ; seeming favors prove 
abortive and injurious in the end, demanding reparation and 
pay; and seeming injuries are a discipline from heaven, and 
prove benefactions to those who jiatiently wait the final great 
accompt. It is a world wherein one should be the \ictim 
rather than the author of malice and wrong ; for a deed of 
blood even, while it must be a thing of lasting terror to the 
doer thereof, as an usurj^ation of the work of (iod, }'et e\en 
such an atrocious act ma}- be an occult blessing, and would 
be speedily forgiven, for it only anticipates b)- a little the 
designs oi nature, and sends the freed soul prematurely home 
to the skies and the mighty possibilities of futurit}-. And 
time's verdict shall be, if ever one lived who was a lion on 
the field of battle, a lamb in times of peace ; one who sought 
position solely that he might benefit his fellows, who flung 
away personal ambition, who loved himself last, who. could 
cherish the hearts that hated him ; one broad enough to see 
that corruption wins not more than honesty, who was e\-er 
just and feared not, and whose ends were all his country's, 
his (iod's, and truth's, that man was Henry W. Blair. 

After much solicitation the colonel writes of himself as 
follows ; 



124 The I'iftccnth Xci^' Ilcnnpshirc ]'olu)ittcrs. 

Fifth .\\i:nik Hiiti;i.. 

.Madisox Sqiakk. 

.New ^"okk. June 19. 1899. 
Friend McGret^or : 

I never can toucli ;i in-rsdiial sketch. I was \ww\ December 6. 1S34, 
at Campton, N. H. My lather's name was William Henry Blair, and 
my mother's name wa.s Lois I5aker. Ijoth natives df that town: my latlier 
descended from the Blairs of Londonderry. N. H.. and my mother from 
Moses Baker, of Candia — Revolutionary stock on both sides. My 
father died from the eflects of an accident. December 8. 1836, leavin^^ 
my mother with three children, and another was Ijorn the twentv-seventh 
(lav of Maw 1837. The children were scattered after a while, and 
mother died of overwork, "rief. and poverty, in the summer of 1846, 
when I was eleven yeai's old. 

I lived on a farm in Campton with Richard Bartlett, a good man and a 
good farmer, the onlv l)ov on the farm, until 1 was twentv-one. getting 
what I could from the common schools of the town, and two terms at the 
Holmes Plymouth Academy in the autumn of 1851 and 1852 : the spring 
term at New Hampshire Conference Seminary: spring term, 1853. the 
fall term, 1854, and one more term at a select school in Plvmouth. tall of 
1855. 1 had taught school in Campton the winter of 1852-53: at 
Plvmouth village winter of 1854-55, and at Randolph, Mass.. winter of 
.855-56. 

.My healtii had failed, and 1 had to give up the idea of a liberal 
education, and began reading law with William Leverett, Lscp, in 
Plymouth, Monday, May i, 1856. Was admitted to Crafton Ijar, May 
term, 1859 : appointed solicitor Crafton count}-, sunimei-of i860 : became 
partner with William Leverett, firm name of Leveiett l\: IJlair. .Memljer 
of New llami)shire House of Representatives, 1866; of New Hampshire 
Senate, 1867 and 1868: Inited States House of Representatives, 1875- 
77, Forty-fourth ant! FortN-fit'th Congresses: of Senate from 1879 until 
1891 : of I'nited States House of RepresiMitatives, Fit'ty-third Congi'ess, 
1893-95. Since tln-n |)racticing law. at home in Manchester. N. IL, 
where I am still i-esiding. 

Married to Kli/.a Nelson, daughter of Rev. William Nelson, of Plymouth, 
Decembei- 20, 1859. One child. llenr}P. Hl.iii-. a piactieing Ia\\\er at 
Washington, D. C. 

Over seventv-five millions of dollars — more than half of ;dl the annual 
expenditure for pensions — are \ym\ out under laws wliich 1 originated. I 
take some comtoit in that. 

I ;im the author of •• The Temperance .Moxement. or The Conflict of 
Man with .Alcohol." and •• F.ssays and .Vddresses upon .Many Subjects " 



The Field and Stajf. 125 

In atklition to the aboxe enumeration ot his pubhc services, 
it should be mentioned that he was appointed to the Chinese 
mission, but was rejected as persona uon grata to that great 
kingdom because of some just strictures of his while in 
Congress, on the subject of oriental immigration. 

In a letter to Colonel Kent, afterwards of the Seventeenth 
Regiment, Colonel Blair says : 

My own connection with the service came about as follows: 

I rode with C\)lonel Cross from Concord to Plymouth in 1861, he 
being on his way to Lancaster, where he was beginning to raise the Fifth, 
and decided to enlist and go with him. I was not then verv strong, and 
when I tokl my friends tliey objected, and my family physician with the 
rest. I went to Concord, and was examinetl liv one of the surgeon.s 
there, who said that they should reject me. I lost mv mother and a 
brother by consumption, had broken down in pursuit of an education, 
and was still enfeebled by a relapse of measles some vears before ; so I 
gave it up. But in the summer of the next year I volunteered for the 
Twelfth, again with the same result, however, when I went to the surgeon 
at Concord. Tlie call for 300.000 nine-months' men was then or imme- 
diateh' <iut, and I again saw the surgeon, who said he would accept me 
for nine months, as I appeared to be determined to go anvwav. I 
had no military knowledge, and strange as it may seem, didn't think of 
being trusted witli a commission at tirst. 

I saw (lovernor Berry at Concord as soon as I got this from the 
surgeon. He told me to go to raising men. which I did at once; in fact, 
had already raised a scjuad fi r the Twelfth, which I turned over to a 
friend who was commissioned in that regiment. 

We got into camp the trrst or certainly about the tirst of the nine- 
months' men : l)ut by that time I had grown some and been chosen 
captain, Ela first, and Page sec(md, lieutenants of our proposed company 
— this by an understanding which was put in form l)v the company at 
Concord. 1 had practical charge of the camp work until the Fifteenth 
left Concord. Of the arrangements as to tield otificers I was ignorant, or 
rather had no part in them, until I was told tliat an arrangement was 
being made so that I would be made major, and so it came about that I 
was commissioned of that rank, and I took the position with plentv of 
fear and trembling: but contact with the other men who were to be my 
superiors, none of them having had military experience, had then given 
me some relative confidence in m\self. 1 infer that there is a secret 
history, of which I have no knowledge, jjehind this. 



126 The fifteenth Xcw Ilavipshiir WTunttcrs. 

MAJ. JOHN ALDRICIl. 

l-5irthi)lacc, P'ranconia, N. H. ; date of birth, June i. 1824. 
Since 1 844 his home has been at Lakeport, formerly a part 
of the town of Gilford, and now a part of the city of Laconia. 
Has been identified with the order of Masonry over fort}- }ears, 
and was elected worshipful master of IMt. Lebanon Lodge 
in 1 86 1 and 1862, and is connected with the Union Chapter, 
R. A. Masons, and also of Chocorua Lodge, No. 5 i , L O. O. F. 

Was a representative from the town of Gilford to the state 
legislature in 1855 and 1856, has held the office of selectman 
in same town four years, and town treasurer three years. 
Was enumerator for wliat is now Ward 6, Laconia, for the 
tenth and eleventh census. Has been treasurer of the Lake 
Village Savings Bank since 1890, until elected ]n-esident 
in 1898. 

1^'or manv _\'ears has been connected with some of the 
leading manufacturing establishments of Laconia. 



SURG. CARL HERMANN HORSCH 



I!V jA.MKS W. HARTLETT, OF DOVER. 

"Doctor liorsch was born jul\' 23. 1822, in J'^Nthra, ncai" 
Leipzig, Saxon)-. His i)arents were i)oor. and his eari\- life 
was one of toil and hardshiix l"'ortunatel}- the \-illage school- 
master saw the l)o}-'s worth, and awakened in him a thirst 
foi" knowledge. When fourteen xears old he left home for 
Altenburg, to earn his lixing. Here ihe court surgeon was 
attracted toward him, and strongh- acK'ised him to become a 
l^lnsieian. Working his o\\-n \\-a\- and stuching when opjxir- 
tuiiit}- offered, Doctor liorsch, in six xears, fitted himself tor 
the Uni\ersit\- of I'rague. Here he studied six \ears, sui)- 



The Field and Staff. 127 

porting himself by his own exertions, and graduated from the 
medical department September, 1848, receiving especial com- 
mendation from his professors. 

" Returning home, Doctor Horsch, October i, 1848, entered 
the Saxon army as assistant surgeon in the ficlcl hospital. 
March, 1849, he was transferred to the ambulance corps, 
and ser\ed therein during the Schleswig-Holstein war, and at 
its close was left in charge of the military hospital at Flens- 
burg. June 5, 185 i, he was commissioned company surgeon 
in the king of Saxony's body-guard. He held this position 
nearly three years, when, at the solicitation of American 
friends, he resigned to emigrate to the United States. He 
i-esided a year in Boston, Mass., in the famil)' of, and 
assistant to. Doctor Wesselhoeft. Preferring a countr}- life, 
he declined a generous offer from Doctor Wesselhoeft, and, 
in August, 1855, settled in Do\'er, N. H., where he remained 
during his life, in a lai'ge and \'er)' successful practice. In 
March, 1858, he married Miss Fanny A. Littlefield, of 
Dover, who, with two daughters, survives him. 

"When the Fifteenth Regiment New Hampshire Volun- 
teers was raised, the officers, wishing to have Doctor Horsch 
for their surgeon, applied to the state authorities to ha\e him 
commissioned. Expecting opposition from the examining 
board, by reason of his being classed as an homceopathist. 
Doctor Horsch took an examination before the medical board 
of Massachusetts, receiving a strong recommendation to the 
governor of that state for an appointment. A week later 
the medical commission of New Hampshire refused to pass 
him. This singular decision, against a surgeon who had 
served five years with honor in the German arm)-, was due to 
the aversion of the board to homoeopath}-. Three months 
afterward, the regimental surgeon having resigned on account 
of illness, the field and staff officers petitioned for Doctor 
Horsch's appointment. Govenior Berry immediately com- 
missioned him, and he joined the regiment near New Orleans. 



128 Tin- Fifteenth Xcu tlauipsltur I'oliintccrs. 

" Here his e.\])erience in the (lerman ami)- was of i;reat 
benefit to him, antl his merit was'Soon recognized. A report 
having been sent to the medical headquarters of the Gulf 
department that Doctor Horsch was an homoeopathist, Doctor 
Sanger, who was bitterly opposed to that system, hastened 
to make a searching examination during a temporarx' absence 
of Doctor Horsch. Meeting him on his return, Doctor 
Sanger informed Doctor Horsch of the report and the author 
thereof, and congratulated him on the excellence of his field 
hospital, sa}ing * there was none better in that department.' 
The friendship then begun between the two men lasted till 
Doctor Horsch 's death. 

"At the siege of Port Hudson, Doctor Horsch was appointed 
an assistant operator. During the engagement of Ala\" 2"] , 
1S63, to use his own words, 'We all had to do our full duty 
da\- and night.' The work was continued until late at night, 
and when his last case was disposed of, he sank exhausted on 
the ground imdcr his o})erating tabde. June 7 he was jiro- 
motecl to first operator, his brigaele surgeon and aiiother 
being assigned as his assistants. In \ain he tried to decline 
the position, insisting that it belonged to another, and 
declaring 'that he cared nothing for precedence or rank, 
desiring oid}- to do his dut}'.' He was not allowed to refuse 
it, but his work was done, b'atigue ccmscquent on over- 
exertion antl exposure brought on a malarial fe\-er which 
nearl}- cost him his life, and from the effects of which he ne\er 
fulK' recoxered. Returning liome with his regiment, he 
resumed his extensi\-e i^ractice to the great satisfaction of his 
fellow citizens. 

" In 1.SS2, at the reconuuendation of many of the prominent 
physicians of Xew Hampshire. Doctor Horsch was apjXjinted 
a membei' of the first state board of health. He helped 
organize it, and serx'ed thereon until failing health compelled 
him to resign in iSXT). He was a member of llie American 



The Field and Staff. 129 

Public Health Association, the American Medical Associa- 
tion, the Medico- Legal Society, New York, and the Strafford 
District Medical Society, New Hampshire, and president of 
the last in uSSj-'SS. For the last six years of his life he 
suffered from an organic disease of the heart, which obliged 
him to give up his active practice in iS<S8. He died in 
Dover, N. H., September 22, 1891. 

■ "Doctor Horsch had a loft}', noble character. He was 
strictly conscientious in every act of life, always openly and 
fearlessly acting according to his convictions, whether others 
approved or he stood alone. Incapable of the least profes- 
sional jealousy, he cared nothing for rank or precedence, his 
only desire being to benefit his fellow men. He disliked to 
have his skill praised, and never was willing to allow, except- 
ing in one instance, that life was due wholly to his efforts ; 
that was the case of a drummer boy, from whom he extracted 
a bullet, which, he said, ' had it remained must necessarily 
ha\e pr()\ed fatal.' For many years he devoted much time 
and labor to sanitar\' work, and was ever foremost to engage 
in every cause to benefit humanit}'. He always wished to 
impart his knowledge to others, and at all times assisted 
younger physicians. Everyone who came in contact with 
him was strongly attracted toward him ; his decease caused 
universal mourning throughout his adopted city. His life 
motive is fittingly expressed in the inscription on his memorial 
stone, ' His worship of the All-Good was faithful and loving 
service of his brother man.' " 

Such strong and honest souls as his rise above the narrow 
restraints and superstitions of all religions, which are based 
on pecuniary support and whose sole aim is to beguile and 
tithe the toiling millions of earth. Of this his biographer 
says : " Doctor Horsch was brought up in the Lutheran 
church. As he grew older he began to question and doubt, 
and could no longer accept its narrow and irrational theology. 
9 



130 TJw Fiftccjith Xci^' Havipsliirc I'olniitccrs. 

As his reason clcxelopcd. bestrew into Ijroadcr. higher, nobler 
conceptions of (jod and rehnion than those of his bo\hood. 
Doctor Horsch's rehgion was not confined to sentiment or 
behef only, but carried into e\-er}' act of his daily life. His 
nobilit}' of soul was reco^gnized by all with whom he came in 
contact, but those on whom he bestowed the inestimable 
privilege of his innermost friendship, best knew the full 
strength and beauty of his spiritual nature." 

His life was spent in good for his fellow men, alle\iating 
their sufferings, freeing them from mental thraldom, religious 
superstitions and frauds, thus vastl_\- differing from that of 
those who falsely teach the race that death is a fearful 
thing and that a dreadful hell of miser}" lies beyond it, which 
can only be shunned by bringing tithes to them of all their 
shea\es and flocks, whereon such false teachers ma\- li\e in 
idleness and luxury. 

Of the above, whatever is not included in quotation marks 
is by the historian. 

Extract from a letter : 

Doctor Horscli vcr\- sL-ldoni talked alioiit his army life, excepting- in a 
general wav. Once in a ^reat while he would relate some incident, such 
as his meeting with Doctor Sanger, ami the drummer hoy. In speaking- 
of the latter he said: " I can truly say 1 savjd his life." and added, "it 
was a trying moment when I was taking the hall out: i did not breathe 
■even until I had it in my hand." The incident sliows the interest he took 
in everv case under his care. 



The Field and Staff. 



131 




ASST. SURG. JOSEPH EDWARD JAXVRIN. 



[From the " Uxiversitv Magazine," FEr.KUARV, 1894.] 



"Dr. Joseph Edward Jaxvrix was born at Mxctcr, 
N. H., January 13, 1839. He is descended from John 
Jan\-rin, who came from the Isle of Jersey in 1705, and 
located at Portsmouth, N. H., marrying a Miss Knight of 
that place. Doctor Janvrin's father, Joseph Adams Janvrin, 
and his mother, Lydia A. Colcord, were both of Exeter. He is 
a lineal descendant of the historical Adams family, of Ouincy, 
Mass. His grandmother, Abigail Adams Jan\rin, was the 
daughter of Dr. Joseph Adams, of Pc^-tsmouth, X. H., a 
cousin of President John Adams. 



132 TIic Fifteenth Xei^' Hampshire I'ol/uiteers. 

" Doctor Janvrin was graduated from Phillips Exeter 
Academy in 1857. In 1894 he was president of the alumni 
association of that famous institution. Like many of our 
professional men, he spent some time in teaching, but teach- 
ing did not satisfy him, and he soon decided ujxjn medicine 
as his life work. He began the study in 1859 at ICxeter 
under Dr. William G. Perry. He was thus engaged until 
the spring of 1861, when, upon the breaking out of the civil 
war, he joined the Second New Hampshire Regiment, the 
first three-year regiment from that state, and was shortly 
afterwards appointed assistant surgeon of the Fifteenth Reg- 
iment New Hampshire Volunteers. He remained m the 
service until August, 1863, and during the last few months 
of his service was the acting surgeon of the P"ifteenth Regi- 
ment. He returned home, and attended a course of lectures 
in the medical department of Dartmouth, at the same time 
becoming a pupil of Prof. E. R. Peaslee, at that time one of 
the faculty of the college. In the autumn of 1863 Doctor 
Janvrin came to New York, and graduated from the College 
of Physicians and Surgeons in 1864. In January, 1865, he 
entered prixate practice with his former ]:)receptor, Doctor 
Peaslee. This association continued until the death of 
Doctor Peaslee in Jaiuuu}-, 1878. 

" l-'rom 1868 to 1872 Doctor Jan\rin held the position of 
visiting physician to the department of heart and lung dis- 
eases in the Demilt Dispensary. In 1872 he was appointed 
assistant surgeon to tlie Woman's Hosjiital in tlie state of 
New York, which position he lield until 18S2, when he was 
apjiointed to fill the ])osition of gynecologist at the New 
\'ork .Skin and Cancer Hospital. Doctor Jan\iin's j^ractice 
has been piincipall}' in the surgical held of gynecology. 

"Although a constant and zealous worker and practitioner, 
he has found time to contribute many valuable papers to the 
medical press upon subjects connected with this branch of 
surgerv. .Among them : " A Case of Interstitial Pregnanc\-," 






The Field and Stajf. 133 

Auicr. Jour, of Obstetrics (New York, Nov., 1S74); "The 
Simultaneous Closure of the Ruptured Cer\'ix and Perineum, 
Report of Fifteen Cases," ^^;//r/-. y<:v//-. of Obstetrics (May, 
1884); "A Case of Tubal Pregnancy of Unusual Interest, 
with Some Remarks as to the Treatment of Such Cases," 
Trans, of the Avier. (jj'/nro. Ass'n for 1SS6 ; " (In the 
Indications for Primary Laparotomy in Cases of Tubal Preg- 
nancy," (same for 1888); "A Clinical Study of Primary 
Carcinomatous and Sarcomatous Neoplasms between the 
P\)lds of the Bn^ad Ligaments, with a Report of Cases," (same 
for 1891); "On the Limitations for \^aginal Hysterectomy 
in Malignant Disease of the Litems," X. Y. Med. Record 
(July 9, 1892); " X'aginal Hysterectomy for Malignant 
Disease of the Uterus," X. Y. Journal of Gynecology and 
Obstetrics (Sept., 1892) ; " The Palliati\e Treatment of Such 
Cases of Malignant Disease of the Uterus and Adnexa as are 
not Amenable to Radical Operations," Gaillard's Med. Jour. 
(New York, Jan., 1893), and several others on kindred sub- 
jects. Many of these papers were in advance of contempo- 
rary medical thought, and established the reputation of 
Doctor Janvrin as a leading specialist of his time. The 
doctor is a member of the following New York societies : 
Academy of Medicine, County Medical Society, County Med- 
ical Association, of which he was president for the )'ears 
1896 and 1897, State Medical Association, and the Obstet- 
rical Society, of which he has also been president for two 
years. He is also a member of the American Gynecological 
Association, American Medical Association, and correspond- 
ing member of the G}'necological Society of Boston, and the 
International Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 

" Doctor Janvrin married Laura L. Lawall, of Easton, Pa., 
September i, 1881 . 

"It is a pleasure to meet Doctor Janxrin in his delightful 
city home, and to come under the influence of his quiet 
courtesy and kindlv consideration." 



134 ^/^'' f'if^i'O'^/i .Vc:,' tlainpslnir W'linitccrs. 

IIISroRlCAL SKJ'TCH. 



1<"k().\i \()\i:.\ii;i:k 12, 1862, to Jamak^' i, i<S63. 

The deeds, the dariiiL;, the prowess, the valor of the troops 
in the Dejiartment of the (iulf and on the lower Mississippi 
dui-ini;- the war lor the ])reser\ation of the union, ha\e ne\'er 
been i)roc]aimed to the woild, nor the story of their endur- 
ance and har(lshi])s. isolated b\' their ])osition, the}- C(nild 
onl\' be I'eached by a loni; and tempestuous ocean xoyage, 
while the tumultuous events ot the ^I'eat conflict nearer 
home, and, as it were, interposed between them and the 
world, en,L;rosse(l the attention of all. Like Xenophon's 
arm\', the)' wei'c lost to si^ht in the de])ths ol the enem\''s 
country ; and if they were seen or heard from, it was throu,L;h 
the dense war clouds and smoke and thunder of inc'cssant 
battles that ra-ed alon.i;- the I'otomac and the -ivat rixers of 
the West, so tenific and bewildeiin,^ as to obscure all that 
lay be\ond. Here fact is stranger than fiction, and the story 
of their achievements, and at what a i)rice they were won, is 
moi'e thi'illin.L; than lomancc, and with ihe crowning' success 
that waits on patient and heioie endeavor, and which in some 
,:;reat lioui- of \ictoi_\- ])eic-he(l on their soiled and tattered 
banners, should be told now, ;md fi'om sii-e to son, wherever 
and so Ioul; as true \aloi- and love of one's home and lathei"- 
land are esteemed the chiefesl of human \ irtucs. ( )ur 
country should be \alued at what it cost the fathers, in 
l)lo()(l and treasure, and in this just \iew its worth tamiol be 
known till the sloi_\- of the fathers is told in all its fullness 
and ilctail. ( )ur comrades ha\e suffered loni; nc,^lcct ; the\' 
should now be rescued fi(im their oblivion and justite done 
to all, but especiall\- to those who ,L;a\e their li\es to the 
cause. 'Ihe honoied dead lie scatteied o\ er a \ast expanse ; 
if the\' could l)c summoned, as b\' a trumpet call, bat'k to 
life- and memoiw the\' would lise from praxes all o\ei' our 
land and some from the ocean's depths. 



Historical Sketch. 



135 



The call was by i'rcsitlcnt Lincoln tor 300,000, and dated 
Aui;ust 4, 1S62. 'riie\- spranj; to arms with alacrit}' — all 
made great sacrifices tor the cause. War seeks the l)ravest 
and best, and loves a shinin- mark. Many left a i)rosi)er()us 
business to i-elapse to disaster and irretrievable ruin ; many 
left }oung wives ami l)abes ; and not the least of all sacrifices 
was that of young bo}-s from school, who broke otT their 
early training for a successful career in life, and thereb)- lost 
their places in the race, to be, in their absence, seized by 
others and held against them, now bi-oken in health, with all 
the heartless greed of a selfish world. 

It were but fail" to note that the short term regiments were 
called tor b)' our mart\r president tor a si)ecific pui'pose — as 
an auxiliary in the dii'c extremity ot our counti'v's woe, to 
re-entorce our ainiies alread)' in the field, and ^\•ho were there 
foiled and held at ba_\-, and so enalile them to rail)' once 
more, and strike the now victorious and exultant enemy 
an effectix'e and fatal blow. it was the darkest hour of 
our country's ])cril. The " sex'en tkns' " battles had just 
been fought — Mechanicsxille, Cold Harbor, .Sax'age's Station, 
l*"ra/er's k'arm, AlaKern Mill; our grand armies, shattered 
and bleeding, were forced back from kichmontl, down the 
peninsula, and the pursuing and ti"iumphant hosts, crossing 
the Potomac to reclaim fair Maryland as their own, and 
transter the seat of war, with all its haxoc and l)loo(l, to 
Northern fields. ( )ur armies, after repeated attempts and 
appalling sacrifices, had as }-et made no iiu-oads on the foe. 
I^ach adxance ended in repulse and disaster; doubt and gloom 
per\-aded e\er_\' loyal heart, and hung like a funeral i)all in all 
the sky and aii". lIowe\-er bright the summer da}', an 
unwonted sadness brootled there, for bi-others dwell no more 
together in unit}', and the beauties of peace and all her 
beneficent arts gi\e ]:)lace to ceaseless alarms and mighty 
prcj-jarations. All the .South glistens in steel, marshalled by 
rebellious chiefs, for the destruction of the gi'cat I'epublic 



136 The Fifteenth Xeic Havipsliire ]\T/initeers. 

which, as a motlicr, had nurtured and trained them from 
their Nouth for her own especial safe^^uard and defence, and 
who were sworn thereto h\ the most solemn (xiths ; and now 
must she put forth all her strenL;th, aloni;- all her wide 
borders, both by land and sea, or ))erish from the earth at 
the murderous hand of her own most favored sons. The 
Shenandoah and the once fruitful valle}s of X'irginia and 
Kentucky, renowned and fertile as the plains of Lombard}-, 
are laid waste by hre and sword and the tramping of mighty 
hosts ; the broad fields of wheat and corn are trenched with 
war, and batteries frown from every height ; the Rappahan- 
nock and its tributar\' and sister streams run crimson to 
the sea. 

It was at such a midnight hour of darkness and unwonted 
danger that the}' of whom I write sprang to arms. It 
were as though an Hannibal were on our borders ; and 
thus \'iewed, it was a nobler and iM-aver deed than that 
for which Leonidas and his bra\e followers are renowned 
through all historic ages. They were trained soldiers — their 
trade was war — stationed at the gatewa}' of Thermop}-lae 
expressly for its defence ; but these men, used on!}- to the 
arts of peace, from the highest motixes of j:)atriotism and 
dut}-, take arms, and go forth into the dunnest clouds antl 
storms of war to meet a ti"iumphant foe and face mortal 
peril. Nor were inroatls made u])on the foe, or successes 
attainetl in the lurst or the West, till the Northern armies 
felt the impulse of these opportune auxiliaries, and the 
Confederacy, under their conjoined forces, began to yield 
along the lower Mississippi and in the far-awa}' Department of 
the Gulf. In fact, other defeats yet awaited the Union arms 
in the North, bitter, a])palling, disastrous — l-"redericksburg, 
C'hancelloi'sxille — and another adxance of the foe, with e\"er}' 
prosjiect now of \ ictor\- and of le\\ing tribute on the great 
cities and opulent harxest fields of l'eiuis}l\ania antl New 
York — nay, of e\en seizing the federal capital itselt, antl 



I 



Historical Sketch. i 3 7 

thus securing recognition from the world, and (hctating terms 
of peace on our own soil and at our \er\' gates. Antietam, 
the most sanguinar}- battle of modern times, was at best but 
a drawn battle, and our victory at Gettysburg, where the 
contending armies were evenly matched, hung by a thread, 
and was but barely won, after the most heroic efforts of the 
Union forces, as it were, by a mere chance — b}' one single 
false movement of the foe ; and both these terrific encounters 
resulted only in checking the enemy and confining him to his 
original, menacing, and impregnable lines around Richmond. 
And Gettysburg would not ha\e been won except for the 
presence of the short term troops. 

The seizure of New Orleans and the subsequent operations 
in the Gulf, with the fall of \'icksburg and Port Hudson and 
the opening of the great river — naval and militar}- feats of 
so vast import and magnitude as to stand alone and unri\- 
alled in history — severed the huge dragon of the rebellion 
in twain, and led directly to its disintegration and downfall. 
It is not claimed that these gigantic results were the exclu- 
sive work of the short term men, but that, as efficient and 
indispensible auxiliaries, they contributed to these decisive 
victories, and that without their aid our gallant armies 
already in the field could not ha\-e accomplished their 
achievement. And now, with disparagement to none, we 
seek no undue credit or glory, but simpl)- that meed which is 
just and right. Than those of whom I write, none ever 
gave their lives more freely. They were on the picket line 
and in the trenches and where\-er hardship or danger was, 
and were always in the van on the day of battle. And it 
should be set down to their eternal honor that many of these 
men were below the military age at the outbreak ot hostil- 
ities, and were till now held in restraint like hounds in the 
leash ; others, too, who were i:)h}'sicalh' debarred from service 
in older and long term organizations, and who were now 
given this opportunity to show, by their deeds, the spirit and 



138 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire ]\>Iiniteers. 

faith that dwelt within them ; and there were still others 
who had been disabled in pre\ious service at the front and 
discharged therefrom, and who had so far recovered as to be 
accepted here ; and records show that all, apparently, who 
returned with our broken and shattered rci^iment, and who 
were not utterly debilitated, re-enlisted and returned to the 
front, where they endured renewed hardships and dangers, 
and many suffered wounds and deaths not herein recorded. 
They were not in any true sense short term men, but were 
there till the end. All the weak had succumbed to the 
perils and hardships of a soldier's life, and slept in soldiers' 
graves or were dropped from the rolls, never more to feel 
the exuberance of }()uth or enjo)- the blessings of health. 
But such as did return to the front were trained and 
hardened \-eterans now, each an host in himself ; could meet 
a Spartan in equal conflict ; was proof against the unseen 
pestilence that lurked in tented fields ; capable of all endur- 
ance and hardship; blackened b)- sun and storm like the 
Xumidian archer ; silent and grim in demeanor, never mur- 
muring nor complaining, ne\er surprised nor stampeded ; 
true and unflinching as the polished steel he bore and 
constant as the polar star. The\' were there till the last ioe 
laid down his arms ; they would not sur\-i\e their country's 
fall ; the}- were in the far South and the Mast ; the_\- marched 
with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea, and were present on 
the pi"oud, sad day of Ai)pomatto.\. 

The history of the regiment, as an organization, dates 
from No\ember 12, 1S62 — its term beginning on that da)' — 
when it marched to Concord, and was mustered into the 
ser\ ice of the L^nited States b\- Capt. Charles Holmes, of 
the -Sexenteenth I'nited States Infantr)-. The ceremonies 
were \er\' imposing, and took |)lace in the state house \ard. 
( )ur sturdy old war go\enior, Nathaniel S. Heri")', there and 
then presented the regiment with its colors, the "Hag of our 
lathers." with its full constellation of stars, and the banner of 



Historical Sketch. 



139 



the state, the shield of New Hampshh-e theieon, all in blue 
and L;()ld and heavily fringed and tasselled ; they were of 
silk and of the richest d}es, and their staffs were surmounted 
with golden eagles, like the standards of old Rome. Napo- 
leon's historic guard nor great Caesar's tenth L-gion never 
marched in Gaul nor paraded the streets of the eternal city 
with banners of like artistic worth and beauty. 




GOV. NATHANIEL S. BERRY. 



140 



The l-iftccnth Xcic Ilampsliiir I'oliiutccrs. 



(jovcrnor Berry's words at the presentation were charac- 
teristic and fiery — all felt the insi^ration of the moment. 
He enjoined that these fia^s should be carried to the \ery 
forefront in the da\' of battle, and be there maintained and 
defended to the last. He doubted not that they were 
entrusted to bra\e and faithful hands, and that tlu-_\- would 
be retin-ned with new lustre added to the ,^'lor}' of the old 
Granite State. He appealed to the men to be true to the 
standard of the fathers, and dilated upon the hardshijis and 
suffcrin^:;- that the}', in all probabilit}-, would ha\-e to endure 
in their defence ; and he cautioned the colonel to look well 
after the health and comfort of the men placed in his charge 
so far as it la\- in his power. 

Colonel Kinunian. on receiv- 
in<4- the flags from the goxernor's 
hands, briefl}' responded. He 
was eloquent and patriotic, but 
as was customary in those times, 
a]iproached dangerously near the 
borders ol grandil()C|uence, pledg- 
ing himself and the men ot his 
command to stand b\' these 
I'dlors foi-e\er, remembering 
alwaxs tliat the}' were from the 
land of "old John Stark." "To- 
morrow," he said, "we go forth 
to battle for the union of the 
states, and we swear b_\- the old 
granite hills that these colors 
shall ne\er know disgrace;" then turning to the i-egiment, 
he phu-ed the stars and stripes in the hands of .Sergeant 
Merrick, of C"om])an\' K, the largest man in the regiment, 
who had been p;re\iousl\' selected to recei\e it, and the state 
bamier in the hands of C'orporal Ilussey, of Company I, 




coi,oNi;i, KI^■G^r.\^^ 



I 



Historical Skctc/i. 141 

who stood by his side. These men thus became the color 
bearers of the regiment, and to them was afterwards added 
a color guard of seven additional corporals, making nine in 
all. These exercises were quite protracted, during which 
all stood immovably at attention, and became excessively 
wearied. The regiment then returned to camp. 

The weather was very pleasant and the ground dry, 
although on the eighth there were four inches of snow and 
sleighing. The coming, eventful Thursday, the thirteenth, 
proved one of the most beautiful and tranquil of autumn 
days that God ever vouchsafed to shine on the warring 
children of men. 

Orders are received the night before to break camp, and 
prepare for the march, with a canteen of coffee and rations 
for the trip, and at daylight all is for a time bustle and 
seeming confusion. At 7 o'clock the line is formed, and 
marched off the field by the right fiank in column of fours, 
with the new banners spread to the still air and bright 
autumnal sun. The regiment was now in its fullest numbers, 
and the men in their new uniforms of army blue made a 
very fine appearance ; the field and staff were mounted on 
prancing steeds. The band, which had been organized of 
enlisted men, played along the route ; the music ceased and 
the step was broken while crossing the long, wooden bridge 
across the Merrimack. At <S o'clock boarded a train of 
twenty passenger and four baggage cars, to which were 
attached two powerful locomotives, which immediately pulled 
out from the station amid tumultuous cheering, the band 
playing "The Girl I Left Behind Me," and sped away down 
through the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut, by way 
of Manchester, Nashua, Worcester, and Norwich — the birth- 
place of Benedict Arnold — to Allen's Point, which place 
was reached at 5 in the evening, and where was found in 
waiting the magnificent Sound steamer " City of New York." 



142 The Fifteenth Xeic Hmnpshire ]'olitnteers. 




LORKXZO I-KOST, OI-- THK RAXU. 



Historical SkctcJi. 143 

Farewells were brief at the parting train, and many of them 
very touching, between mothers and sons and others. But 
all sadness was soon forgotten by the boys, for this novel 
experience readily assumed an aspect of the rarest animation 
and gayet)'. The news of our coming strangely fiew on 
ahead, and people everywhere greeted us with cheers and 
waving of handkerchiefs and flags, tossing of hats in air, and 
the discharge of firearms, and exhibited the wildest enthu- 
siasm as the train rushed by. All were there, girls and boys 
and old and young. Children lined the fences, factory 
windows were crowded with faces, and all \'ieing with each 
other in demonstration which were understood to signify, 
hail and farewell and God speed. At all stops people 
thronged the train, and the boys, not to be outdone, cheered 
and shouted till they waked the echoes along the route. 
Many rode on the roofs of the cars, and some lost their caps 
in the breeze. Mothers wrung their hands, and wc})t at the 
parting and in the fearful foreboding of the dark future, and 
here strangers greet us everywhere with moistened e\-es, for 
tears were shed in rivers then as well as blood in those 
heroic days. There were short stops at Nashua and Wor- 
cester and an hour at Putnam, Conn., where there was a 
generous ovation, which seemed especially appropriate, as the 
town was named for the old Revolutionary hero, who killed 
his wolf in Pomfret, only seven miles away. 

Several regiments were noticed at Worcester as we passed. 
It was growing dark when the regiment left the train and 
boarded the steamer, and when there, broke ranks and 
swarmed about the decks. The boys ate their suppers from 
their haversacks. There was music by the band ; there was 
card playing in the brilliant cabins, and festivities general and 
universal till a late hour as the good ship, with all her burthen, 
plowed her way through the dark waters. Many, wearied now 
with their lona' ride on the train and its unbroken scenes of 



144 ^Z'''^' Fifteenth Xcw Haiiips/iiir I'oluntccrs. 

nicrrinicnt aiul boN'ish pranks, and hoarse from shoutini;-, 
rolled themsehes in their blankets, and fell asleep everywhere 
on the hard decks, a most welcome place of rest ; for as by 
hunger a dinner of herbs becomes a royal feast, so fatigue 
makes the flinty rock a soldier's thrice-dri\-en bed of down. 

The night was still and clear, with the stars shining brightl}' 
in the sky, and before there were xisible signs of dawn, 
many were stirring and gazing at the j^assing panorama, for 
as the boat was now steaming around the southern extremity 
of Manhattan and close in shore, the long lines of lamps of 
the lighted streets of New York apparentl}- swung around to 
\iew and away again as she swept by. The officers occui)ied 
the staterooms, and were but little seen. In the early 
morning we passed the "Great l^astern," which lay here at 
her dock, a very unfortunate ship, but b}- far the largest and 
most wonderful example of naval architecture the world had 
ever seen, and which was now being fitted for laving the first 
successful Atlantic cable ; for notwithstanding the war, this 
great work of peace went on, which luakes brothers of all 
mankind, antl at this time, too, the dome of the capitol at 
Washington was finished, and the first railroati that spanned 
the American continent from ocean to ocean was piosecuted 
to final completi(Mi. 

It was now r^ricku', the fourteenth, on the bright autunui 
morning of which dav the boat came to its wharf about 
5 o'clock, and at .S the regiment commenced its mai-ch 
through Canal street and Hroadwa}* for the I'ark Barracks, 
where it arrixed somewhat before noon, and where it jku-- 
took of a dinner of muddy coffee and contractor's soup, 
more m}-sterious and doubtless fuller of miscdiief than the 
witches' cauldron in .Macbeth, but which was eaten with that 
jiroverbial merry heart that doeth good like a medicine, 
ilere the C"it\' Hall I'ark was roughh' inclosed and rooted, 
the trees protruding through apertures. Between 4 antl 5 



I 



Historical Sketch. 



145 



o'clock in the afternoon, the regiment was again called in 
line, and the march commenced for Union Race Course at 
Jamaica, L. I., in the rear of l^nx^klyn city. The band 
played along the march, and e\ery\vhere, as in Massachusetts 
and Connecticut, the bo)s were recci\ed with the wildest 
enthusiasm. There was cheering and waxing of flags and a 
flutter of handkerchiefs, and, after a time, when the route 
step was taken and all went at will, manv partook oi social 
glasses proffered by strangers, and became cjuite lawless in 
their good natured freaks, and indulged some depredations 
that would hardly be overlooked in an)- but soldiers. The 
Company G boys, in passing a market, spitted hogs' heads 
and hams on their bayonets, and decorated themsehes with 
strings of sausage and bouquets of cabbage and other garden 
truck, greatly to the delight of the fat Dutchman who kept 
the stalls. It was nine or ten miles to camp, and laden as the 
bo\-s were, when night settled down the march became \-ery 
irksome. There was some sjiow on the ground and drifts 
along the fences, and a breath of coming winter now per- 
vaded the air. The roads were excessixelv muddy, but 
froze and were ver}- rough at dark. The wind pij:)ed up, 
and at 8, when the camp ground was reached, all foot- 
sore and weary and hungry to the last degree, it was long 
after dark. It grew extremely cold and gust\', and dark 
clouds swept like horses across the sk\- ; we could see 
nothing of our surroundings. The tents had not arri\-ed, and 
there was no shelter, and no recourse but to loiter al:)out or 
roll oneself in his blanket, and lie down on the seats of the 
grand stand or on the ground or under fences, withtnit 
supper, and shiver in the increasing blast. Later snf)w flew 
on the howling wind that cut the cheeks like hail. And 
thus the long night w^as passed — the hardships of a soldier's 
life begin. The thirteenth was passed on the cars, the 
coming night on the steamer's decks ; there was little rest. 



146 



'Flic hlftcoith Xi'zc Haiiips/iiir / \yluutcci\ 



The fourteenth was spent largely on the march from the 
boat to the Park l^arracks and from the barracks to the 
race course, and this wintry night, as we have already 
shown, in the open air. The officers fared no better than 
the men ; their new uniforms were frozen thick with mud. 
But those busy ones, who never slumber nor sleep, main- 
tained through the night a rousing bonfire, which must ha\e 
been very expensive to some citizens hereabouts, for lumber 





CORP. GEO. W. TRICKEY. 



CORP. GEO. W. TRICKEV. 



and fences were consumed in ])i-otligi()us c|uantitics. Hut it 
is said that Uncle Sam paid the bill. 'ihc regimental 
baggage arrived about 10 o'clock at niglit of the fifteenth, by 
teams, in charge of Corporal Tricke\-, of C(>mpan\- 1, who 
had been detailed with a sc|uad of men to transpoit and care 
for the same. it ajipcais that tlic regiment ci-ossed to 
l^rooklyn b}- the i-'ulton ferr)-, but the baggage came b\- wa\- 
of Williamsburg. 



Aniij Life at Long Island. 147 

Armv Life at Long Island. 

It is now Saturday, the fifteenth of November, and cold, 
with northeast winds heavily laden with moisture from the 
neighboring ocean. This, our first day here, was a memo- 
rable one on account of the battle of Long Island, jocularly 
so called. Our rations are prepared by contract on a whole- 
sale scale under the steps of the grand stand, and the various 
organizations march there and file by a hole in the wall, 
when each receives his portion on his plate and a dipper of 
coffee or tea. But our lodging place had been these very 
steps, and our guns were stacked in front. Our boys were 
just getting their rations when a Massachusetts regiment — 
the Forty-first, Colonel Chickering — marched up and began 
to crowd in, and became very boisterous, and mobbed our 
Colonel Kingman, who stood in their midst like a giant. 
He tried to preserve the peace, but the Massachusetts blood 
was up, and man)' were eager for sport. One threw a tin 
dipper at the colonel, which struck him on the nose, wrecking 
his gold bowed glasses, and somewhat disturbing his equa- 
nimity. But now Lieutenant Seavey, being near, handed his 
sword to the colonel, with the flat side of which he laid 
about right and left till the intruders fell back and quiet 
was restored. But there was a very narrow escape from 
bloodshed. Some of the Massachusetts bo}-s shouted, 
"put up that sword!" Our men began to take their 
arms, and were on the point of charging, when the colonel 
ordered them back, telling them that it was unnecessary. 
Our brave old Kingman bore himself with great firmness .and 
ability on this occasion, and averted serious trouble. • We 
gave him three rousing cheers and a tiger, and so the affair 
ended, and no permanent hard feelings were engendered 
between the two regiments. This wrecking of the glasses 
was the onlv casualtv. Thus began and ended the so called 



148 The Fifteenth Xcic Ilauif-shiir \\)liintccrs. 



m 


M 


1 


r 


w 


\ 


m 


A . 


\ 




CAPTAIN STEARNS — Co. E. 



I'IRST I.IEIT. PARKKR — Co. 





SKCUM) I.IIUT. WOOD — Co. E. 



I.lHl'T. T. M. lirSK — Co. G. 



Arviy Life at Long Island. 149 

battle of Long Island, almost on the very spot where, August 
22, 1876, Sir Henry Clinton defeated General Putnam, whose 
home we passed in Connecticut, and compelled General 
Washington to evacuate the island. 

The tents now furnished the regiment were of the \-aricty 
called shelter tents ; they are pitched on the broad lex'el and 
the camp set in order. There is system in all this, the little 
white \illage dotting the ground with mathematical precision, 
each compan}-, according to its place in line, half on each 
side of a street by itself, and each of the compan}' streets 
running back transversely to the general regimental front. 
Such is the plan of all regimental camps. When the regi- 
ment is called in line for drill or dress parade or other 
purpose, the orderly falls in each his own company in his 
own street, and then the ten companies march out from 
these streets, and swing into the general line on the parade 
ground in front. After long drilling this movement could be 
made in an incredibh' short time and with almost absolute 
exactitude. It is mteresting to note that at this time the 
regiment was organized b}' compan}' as follows : 

Left. BCFKEGI DHA Right. 

^ ,= p^ =: S '■'I ^ ^ E- ^ Ca[:)tains. 

27105839461 Captain's 

rank. 

G was the color company, with Captain Stearns of E right 
in the h^lds of our starry banner. 

These shelter tents were intended for four occupants each, 
and were composed of four square .pieces of light canxas that 



150 The Inftcciith Xci^' Hampshire ]'oluntccrs. 



r 




CAPTAIN GORDON — Co. F. 





11, 1 I'. S. 1'. CoI.IiV — C>i. !■■ 



Anny Life at Long Island. 1 5 i 

buttoned together in one large sheet, which could be thrown 
o\er anv improvised ridgepole or be held by two guns at the 
centre, and the edges be brought down and pinned to the 
ground. ( )n the march each occupant was supposed to carry 
one of these pieces, and so with his mates be always ready to 
pitch his tent in an}- place and at a moment's notice. They 
were scarcely three and a half feet high under the ridge, and 
sloped to the ground on either side like the roof of a tiny 
house without walls. They were a source of merriment to 
some and of grumbling and discontent to others ; they 
resembled hay caps, and the boys doxe under them like 
woodchucks, and slept in unutterable mud and misery on the 
cold ground. The most buoyant of our bo}s could scarce 
find comfort or maintain a jocund spirit in such low and close 
quarters at such an inclement season. The line officers were 
provided with wall tents and flies — two to each company — 
and the field and staff were still more commodiously pavilicjned 
in this field of war. 

Sunda}', the sixteenth, was bitter cold, with wind and sleet. 
Snow had fallen hea\ily in the night to the depth of a foot, 
and drifting in the icy blast, had almost buried the little 
white city from sight. It grew warmer toward sunset, and 
changed to rain, which poured down in ceaseless torrents all 
through the night and all the next day till near night, but 
without as yet permitting us a glimpse of the Jamaica sun. 
On this day our regiment was reviewed by General Banks, 
who pronounced it, as he probably did all the others, " the 
finest looking body of men he had ever seen." 

Note. November 16. Extract from letter of Lieutenant Perkins : "It 
is hitter Cdld, and we can have no fire, and we are alniost frozen. I was 
so cold I cunld not hold m\' |)encil to write, and went out to a house, 
where 1 am writing; this.'" 

•■ Manv are sick with C(.)lds and headaches." 



152 The FiftcciitJi Xcik.' Irlampsliirc W^lnutccrs. 

But now restraint and liartl work bci^in. Tlic fullowin";- 
order of ealls will indieate the L;encral routine : 

I'xiox CorusE. 

.MoxDAV. November 17. 1862. 
Gknekal Order. Xo. 4. 

The following- dail_\- details and duties will he observed till further orders : 

Reveille and roll-call at daybreak. 

Breakfa.st at 7 o'clock .\. ^\. 

Guard mounting at 9 o'clock A. .M. 

Companv drill at 9.30 o'clock A. .m. 

Dinner at 12 o'clock .M. 

Battalion drill at 2 o'clock v. ^\. 

Evening dress parade at 4 o'clock i'. M. 

Tattoo at 8.30 o'clock v. .m. 

Tai)s at 9 o'clock i'. M. 

At taps all lights will be extinguished e.xcept at headquarters, and all 
enlisted men e.\ce])t the guard will be in their quarters. 

By command of Col. Joiix \V. 1\IX(,max. 

Edward E. Pinkiiam. Aiijiitaut. 

This was a \q.x\ rain\- da\' ; ixun-ed down in torrents in the 
afternoon ; cleared at nii;ht. Xo drill. 

Union Cotu'se, Tuesdaw Xoxeniber 18, 1862. .\ \er)" 
cheerless, windy autumn day. All drill omitted because of 
the heavy rains. All the land is flooded and well nigh 
impassable for mud. One's feet sink into the ooze and mire 
from four to si.\ inches. It i)roves that it was by some 
mistake that shelter tents were sent us. and to-da\- A tents 
were recei\-ed. white and new, and the little shelters were 
hastil}' exchan-ed for these comparatixely luxurious C|uarters. 
With them came also loads of tdean, brig,ht straw, and the 
boys evinced theii' jo}- by cheerin- the colonel, and in the 
e\-enin,n g,'^''k^ '^''^^ -i I'ousin^ serenade, in which the band 
joined, and the spirits of all rose ai;ain to a hii^h jiitch in 
spite of their ,L;loom\- cnxironments. Dress jiarade in the 
mud at 4 I'. M. 



I 

i 



A7-UIV Life at Long- Is laud. i 53 

Union course, Wednesday, November 19, icS62. Thoui;-!-! 
rainy and with the wind still cast, battalion drill was held 
and dress parade in the mud at the ))rescribed hours. At 
battalion drill the \vht)le ret;"iment is manouxered b)' the 
colonel and his staff in full military arra\'. It is obser\"ed 
that an immense army is assembling here. 

On Thursday, the twentieth, it was still raining, with the 
wind from the ocean. There is no dr)- place nor warmth. 
One's frame trembles and the teeth chatter. Our beds at 
night on the saturated ground are extremely cold and uncom- 
fortable. A New York batter)' arrixes, and goes into camp 
near b}-. It was a peculiar and ai)})arentl}- deadh' affair, 
consisting of four pairs of heav}- trucks, on the ponderous 
axles of each of which were mounted twent}'-fi\e barrels of 
about one inch calibre, that could be elevated, depressed, or 
spread fan-like by some complicated mechanism, and fired 
with great rapidit}'. The camp was tidied up in spite of the 
rain, in expectation of the arrival of General Banks, for it 
now appears that we are a part of a secret expedition com- 
mitted to his charge. 

On Friday, the twenty-first, the wind was still east. It 
rained hard through the night, and came down in toi rents all 
day. llie broad land is all afloat. No drill nor dress 
parade. The fare and all the circumstances are excessively 
oppressive and disheartening, and now that the no\elty of 
military life has somewhat worn away, in some bosoms the 
fires of patriotism are nearly quenched. Man)' of tnu" mem- 
bers were prosperous farmers and business men, and nearl)' 
all enlisted from high motives of duty and for the public 
weal ; and the \'er)' few who did not, deserted at the first 
opportunit)', and were in general seen no more. But in the 
case of some who now forsook their colors, it must be 
admitted that there was well nigh intolerable pro\'ocation 
thereto in the impenetrable gloom of the situation. It is a 
source of pride that not one of our men deserted in the face 



154 l^f'>-' Fifteenth Xew Hampshire J'oliinteers. 

of the cncni}- or after reaehini;- the southern land ; but it is 
l^ainful to record that here on this da)' Ser_L;t. John (J. .A. 
Hanson, of Company D. cHsappeared, and was seen no more. 

On the twenty-second it was still raining;- in the forenoon, 
but the sun burst out in the afternoon, and the boys gave 
three rousing- cheers for the glorious old ha\-maker. Regi- 
ments and batteries continually arri\e, and go into camp 
here, till the)- cover a wide extent of level countr)'. They 
are thought to number 30,000 men, and at night, when lit 
up, the vast camp presents a most beautiful sight. The 
Forty-second, Fiftieth, and ]''ift)'-second Massachusetts come 
to-day and another New York batter)-. The chief work is 
drilling, but there is sonic guard and police and fatigue dut)-. 
Corp. A. 1{. Ambrose is appointetl fifth sergeant of Compan)- 
D, \-icc the deserter of yesterday. Death of Orrin F. 
Wheeler, of Compaii)- A. 

Sunday, the twent)--third, was \-ery cold, antl the wind 
rose almost to a hurricane, and on Monda\- the weather con- 
tinued cold, but was otherwise comparati\-el)- pleasant. The 
hands are extremcl)' cold at drill. 

Alonda)-, the twent)--fourth, was cool and jileasant. Man)- 
strangers in the held. Ho)s rallied the cook house, and 
man)- of theni b;-ought off l)eet anil sugar. 

The morning of the twent\--hfth was frost)', but the day 
pro\-etl \-er\- pleasaiit. The full order of dail\- exercises was 
carried out ; a \-er)- Fine drill. Man)- \isiting strangers in 
camp. ( )n this da)' the Xorthwood bo)'s of Comjxm)' I) had 
a \'er)' ]ileasant ami unexix'cted greet iiig from old friends and 
former neighbors. Mrs. Annie ( Knowlton) Morrison, then 
of New \'ork city, sister of Mr. Ilemy Knowlton, of Xorth- 
wood, who made the presentation remai'ks in Xorthwood 
when Lieutenant I)urgin receixed his sword, hearing of the 
arrixal of the Xorthwood l)o\'s, dro\e to cam]) with apples 
and cider from the old home in Xorthwood, froni the farm 



An/iy Life at Long Island. 155 

of her father, Mr. Miles Knowlton. She brought also 
chickens, pies^ and various other articles of food. Mrs. 
Morrison, with other ladies, was away from home, engaged in 
preparing lint for the wounded, when she received word of 
the presence of her old neighbors on Long Island, and then 
immediately retiu-ned, where, with her husband, late in the 
afternoon of the twent}--fourth, she commenced her prepara- 
tions, and after working all night, at 3 o'clock in the morning 
of this day she started for camp. 

Note. Extract tVom letter of Sergt. Luther Stevens, of Company K, 
dated Xovember 25: "There is the call to battalion drill, and I must 
stop now. 

••After supper, Union Course, Ijy candle light, sitting on my i)illo\v, 
writing on mv camp stool. We have got our tent fixed up with a tioor 
and shelves put up for our dishes and to eat on. Those that call in to 
see us think it ver_\- hantly to what theirs is. Vou know what a curious 
fellow 1 am to tix up things, and we have quite a snug little home. I 
should like to have you peep in, and see us and how snug and comfortable 
we are. Perhaps vou would like to know something about what a large 
family they have to cook for here. One man takes the contract to teed 
all the men here, and the\' have a large cook house fitted up, and ha\"e 
two sets of hands, and work night and dav, and the teams run night and 
day to haul the provisions. To-night \ve had bread and cheese and 
coffee, and you can judge something about it when I tell you that we eat 
a half ton of cheese and a cord and a half of bread, and we drink thirty- 
two barrels of coffee each time for breakfast and supper. They have 
eight large kettles that hold four barrels each, and they make them all 
full, and the quantities of meat I cannot describe." 

Note. Extracts from a soldier"s letter, dated at Union Course, Xovem- 
ber 25, 1S62 : 

•■ Ca.mp N. p. P).a\ks, 

Xe.\k r>KooKLVN, L. I., Xovember 25, 1862. 
Dfar I'atlicr : 

I improve this opportunity for writing you a few lines, and it will prob- 
ably be the last chance until I am landed .somewhere, it is rumored, t)n 
the soutliern coast. But this is all guess work. Our stay here has 
already been much longer than anyone expected. I'erhaps this was 
owing partly to so much stormy weather. I have hardly seen the sun 



156 The l-'iftccnth Xciv Hampshire ]'oI/iutccrs. 

since I left New Hamijshirc. For nearlv a wci-k after we landed here it 
rained continually, and \vj\\ 'tis raining again. But it takes a good while 
to get so many troops together. Here people take no more notice of a 
whole regiment than thev would of a single squad in Londonderry. I 
])resume there are 30.000 soldiers in this vicinity. 

It is jjretty evident that we shall start soon. The C|uartermaster is 
packing his stores this night. And I guess no one will l)e sorrv to get 
out of this place. * * * Last night they had a little row here at the 
cook house, though the row was not so little after all. for where a riot is 
started among so many, it is apt to be on a large scale. Hundreds would 
start, mn the guard, smash through windows oi- doors, and help them- 
selves to anything they could get hold of. A great manv came out with 
their caps filled with sugar. One stout fellow carried oft' a whole barrel. 
Others brought meat and cider, etc. 

They drill us ])rett\" hard no\\', Init when we are off dut\' we enjov oui"- 
selves well, especially in the evening. I am well, so are all the London- 
derry boys, though forty or fifty of the regiment are in the lu)spital. You 
will please answer this. If we move, it will follow us. Address. 

Chas. Mac, 

L'nion Course, Jamaica, N. Y. 

15th Regt. X. H. \-." 

The t\vent}'-si.\th ai^ain was vcr\' rain)-, l)vit the usual 
order of exercises was carried out. There are daih' rumors 
that we shall leave Long Island, and all are ready now to 
welcome the glad day, and hope that a kind pro\idence will 
vouchsafe that they ma}" ne\er see it more. The mud is 
now^ interminable ; it is black as ink. A rarnmer can be 
run down its whole length. The wind and rain is never 
wear}-, and exen an amphibious animal wouUl starxe and 
drown where we hax'e to drill and march and parade and 
splash about da\- in and tla\- out, and then lie down in it all 
to pass the nights. ( )m' prosi)ect is cut off on one side b\- a 
wood and on the other b\- a high fence, but were these 
remoxed, none could see thi-ough the thick and drizzling air. 
e\en for a ship's length. .Still there are occasional outbreaks 
of jollit}-. and on one of these nights a numerous part)- raided 
the surrounding neigiiborhood, and brotight in siioil as though 



Ai-jiiy Life at Loirr Island. 157 

they had sacked a cit)-, among which were more than a 

hundred ducks and geese. One of the marauders, howexer, 

was shot through the ear and another in the neck with what 

was thought to he peas. It seems that on this e\-ening great 

and quite general prej^arations 

were made for the morrow, 

which was Thanksgi\'ing Day. 

Hoyt, Ora Heath, D. 11 Smith, 

and another of Compan)- F set 

out at 10 o'clock in the evening, 

and went two miles to raid a hen 

house. They waited in amhush 

an half hour for the Dutchman 

to go to hed. When his light 

went out, the}' pulled open 

the hen htnise door, rushed in, 

grahhed two turkeys each, and 

then broke for camp with the 

birds squalling sufficient to wal:e 

the dead. The Dutchman ga\'e 

chase with a gun, but without avail ; and so Company 1^' had 

turkey for the festive occasion, and at which feast the jovial 

Captain Gordon pronounced the following blessing ; 

"God, be merciful to our unrighteousness; our ini(.|uilies 
remember no more. Pardon our sins. Bless our souls. 
Bless this food ; may we expend the strength we receive 
from it to Thy honor and glory. Amen." 

The company K boys also made great i)rei)arations for 
celebrating the coming day ; they proposed a thanksgi\ing 
breakfast. In the evening si.xteen of them, of whom Bill 
Tabor seems to have been the leader, removed some boards 
from the high fence at the back of the park near the railroad, 
through which they made their exit, and visited a Dutch 
farm house, where there was a large flock of fowl. There 
was, however, a w^atch dog tied up there to give the alarm. 




158 The Fifteen f It Xe7^' Hampshire J'o/i/uteers. 

Wwi one returned, and br()Ui;ht to this \var^' sentinel a 
female companion from camp, which engaged his attention 
while they cut the rope, and both went frolicking off together, 
leaving the coast clear. Then work began, and was quickly 
despatched ; they estimate that they carried to camp about 
one hundred and twenty-five hens, ducks, and geese. On 
returning to camp they dug a hole in one of their tents, and 
sat round it and dressed the lot ; then the hole was filled and 
the straw replaced. At half past four in the morning of 
Thanksgiving Day their breakfast was read)-. Late in the 
afternoon the Dutchman appeared in camp with an officer 
and a search warrant, but could find no trace of the missing 
birds. It is said that, in their disappointment, they com- 
plained to Colonel Kingman, but the colonel could not 
believe there was a man in his regiment who would molest 
the Dutchman's property, although it was thought that he 
himself, but perhaps unknowingly, shared in the feast at 
his breakfast table. 

On Thanksgiving Day, the twent}--se\enth. the orders 
were, no drill but dress ixu'ade, and the da}- for a wonder 
being pleasant, was passed in various sports, such as }()ung 
men indulge. There was foot ball and base ball, running. 
jumping, and wrestling, singing, and such dancing and feast- 
ing as is related to have occurred on " Cannobie Lee." And 
thanksgi\-ing bo.xes were recei\'ed from home. ( )ld London- 
derr\' disjiatched one of her citizens to Com])an}' 11 — Mr. 
Thomas Holmes, who had two brothers in the com])an_\' — 
through to our camp with such a feast as few enjoNed at 
home. During the festivities one of Compan_\- (i's tents 
took fire fi-om a candle, when it burned low, dropping 
thnnigh the shank of a baNonet in which it was placed, into 

Note. Extract from a lettL-r : "They luul a ,<;reat time the other ni^ht 
stealing; the Dutchmen's poultry. 1 ^uess there were 200 chickens. (hici<s. 
gee.se, and turi<e\s l)rou^lit into cam]) in one niglit. Since then none 
can go out witliout a corjjoi'al."' 



Anny Life' at Lon;^ Island. 159 

the straw beneath, the bayonet being stuck upright in the 
ground. This frightful instrument of war makes a famous 
candlestick, and serves an endless variety of domestic pur- 
poses, as time will show. It being supper time, the boys 
rushed forward and emjjtied on their tin dippers of coffee, 
and so quenched the flames, but not till two knapsacks and 
a haversack had been destroyed. And truth to tell, some on 
this joyful occasion partook very freely of something more 
ardent than coffee. 

Company A also had chickens and turkey's for dinner, but 
there is no intimation as to whence they came. Zeke Oilman 
and Aaron C. Badger, who were the cooks, may know. The 
Grafton squad had a dinner sent from home in the old 
Granite State. Lieutenant-colonel Frost and Doctor Towle 
were accompanied to New York by their wixes, who prepared 
a feast in the lieutenant-colonel's tent, which was eaten on 
the straw\ Captain Stearns took his company in the after- 
noon to the beautiful Cypress Hill Cemetery. On the whole 
the da}' was highly celebrated ; several landed in the guard 
house. 

The twenty-eighth was another \'ery fine da}', and the 
Fifty-second Massachusetts and one New York battery broke 
camp, and went aboard a transj^ort. 

The twent}'-ninth was very pleasant in the morning, Init 
before noon showers fell, and in the afternoon the windows 
of heaven were again opened, and all the land was deluged. 
Three Connecticut regiments passed on their way to go 
aboard transports, with banners and bands of music. Four 
companies — A, H, D, and I — were told off from the right 
of our regiment, and ordered to pack knapsacks and prepare 
to march. llie regiment was at this time armed with 
Belgian muskets. We do not know the particular purpose 
nor destination of the vast armament here mobilized. We 
onl}' understand this : that it is a secret expedition under 
command of Gen. N. P. Banks. 



i6o The Fiftciiith Xcw Hauipsldrc ]'olimtccrs. 

I mention many sccmini^l}' trixial incidents but to show 
the nature ol militai"}- life at this stai;x' of oiu- career. Passes 
were to be hatl, and the wonders of the L;reat American 
metropolis were treeh' \isited. Two i;"reat cemeteries were 
near, \ast and opulent cities of the dead, in one of which a 
tower on an eminence o\'erlooked the coni;rei;ated wealth of 
these yreat cities of the American world and a wide stretch 
of the ocean, e\-ery\vhere studded with sails. So there are 
endless wonders here to bo"\'s who never saw the world nor 
realized the mai^nitude of its acti\itics and trade, and equalh' 
wondrous to thousands heix' would be the broad. L;reen. fields 
and pleasant woodlands which the\- latel}' left, man\' of them 
never to see them more. 

It ma}' now be intcrestini;- to know somethin;^- of the 
quantit}- and cjuality of a soldier's fare. I append the follow- 
ing;- to show the reL;ular tlaih' j;-o\'ernment allowance for 
12,000 men : 4 barrels corn meal, 2 barrels peas, 8 barrels 
coffee, 3 barrels \ine_i;ar, 2 barrels salt, 20 barrels salt beef, 
35 barrels potatoes, 3 boxes \-ei;etables, 600 pounds soap, 4 
barrels wheat Hour, 2 barrels homin\-, 8 barrels sugar, 2 
barrels s\rup, 34 barrels salt pork, 6 barrels white beans, 
12,000 pounds bread, 600 j-joiuuls candles, 30 pounds tea, 
200 poimds fresh beef in ice, and lari;'e t|uantities of rice and 
suo-ar. 

.Such was life on I-oul;' Island, which we are now about to 
lea\e forexer. ( ), the mud, the cold, the rain I but the 
blessed sun did sometimes show his i;()odl\' face, and was all 
the more ai)|)i'ei'iatcd than if lie shone ahva\s in his meridian 
-ior\'. There were some few to whom a life like tliis was 
burdensome, and others who found it replete with jo}' and 
L;-ladness. There are man\- noxel happenings, incident to 
camps, which \ar\' with e\er\' remoxe, and we learn to meet 
and welcome its difficulties as a necessar\' and beneficial ])art 
of life; and in this \ iew there are no hardships. What 



A nil]' Lift at Lon_>; Island. i6l 

seem so are blessin,^s in tlisguisc tliat fulfill some hi^i;h ])ur- 
pose of Nature to discipline her pupils, and the worst of 
them all are but the subjects of the morrow's laughter. So 
each day here has evils sufficient unto itself and entertain- 
ment also, if only man will be temperate in his desires and 
patiently seek it out. There is less joy at Jamaica than in 
any other spot of earth, but philosophically all the world is a 
paradise, and every poor mortal shall find contentment and 
home wherever on the globe's great face he makes his nightly 
couch. 

The citizens of Brooklyn were very patriotic, and the boys 
were sometimes led to blush for their own predatory raids. 
At the race course passing gentlemen have been seen to pur- 
chase a vendor's stock of apples, and toss them across the line 
to the boys. But we are about to leave. 

It is Sunda}-, the last day of November, a quite pleasant 
and warm day, when Companies A, D, H, and I, having 
been previously warned to hold themselves in readiness, under 
command of Lieutenant-colonel Frost and escorted by the 
band, marched to the Brooklyn wharf, and were there 
ordered aboard the steamer "Ouinc}'." The distance trav- 
ersed was se\-en or eight miles, in full, heavy marching order. 
The march through the cit}- was a perfect ovation. Brooklyn 
was all ablaze with jiatriotism, and many of her good citizens 
threw wide open their doors to all who wore the army blue. 
They broke camp at the race course at 3 p. m., the rest of 
the regiment falling in to salute, and sending them off with 
three rousing cheers ; the\' reached the wharf at dark. 
These four companies now numbered about 340 officers and 
men. The boat was fitted up and provisioned for their 
reception, l^ut Lieutenant-colonel Frost, deeming the boat 
inadequate for the accommodation of his men, refused to 
embark. Me was threatened with court-martial for disobedi- 
ence of orders, but persisted in his refusal, and the men. 



1 62 The Fifteenth Xeiv Havipshire I'oliiiiteers. 

when jxirtly al^oarcl. were ordered ashore, in consequence of 
whicli much confusion arose. Colonel F'rost was immediately 
placed in temi)(M'ar}' arrest. The men found Iodising for the 
night in the cit}" and elsewhere, and were \ariousl)- enter- 
tained. The writer of this well remembers that, with com- 
rade Gregg", ha\-ing secured the necessar}' passes, he \isited 
an uncle of Gregg's, who was a resident of ]^rookl}n, and 
was by him entertained for the night ; and in the e\ening 
was taken to. the great Plymouth Church to hear the world 
renowned Beecher, then in the height ot his fame and the 
most eloquent man of the globe. We sat in a lofty galler}-, 
and looked down \\\)on him from an eminence and a great sea 
of humanity. Mr. Beecher, howe\er, in a few remarks simply 
introduced a colored man, who addressed the people in behalf 
of his down-trodden race. Mr. Beecher was one of the 
attractions of the world, and there were man\' of our boys 
who took ad\antage of this occasion to see him. Captain 
Aldrich formed his comjiany. and marched them back into 
the city, where they were quartered in the Armory, and were 
royally entertained by the loyal citizens of Brooklyn to a 
supper and breakfast. 

On the ne.xt day, Monda)', December the first, Com})anies 
.■\ and I) and their officers and nineteen men of Compan\- H 
antl Lieutenant Perkins — in all about 200, the whole under 
l^'rost — were assigned to the little 300-lon jiropeller, "James 
S. (jreen." 

On the twenty-fifth Lieutenant Durgin, of Comixan)- D, 
was detailed as commissar\- of sul:)sistence during the xoyage, 
and reported to Col. \\. (i. Beckwith, by wliom he was 
assigned to the "(Juinc}." His duty was to receipt for the 
stores aboard, delixer them on i"et|uisition to tlie troo])s en 
route, and at the end of the xoyage tmn tlie bakuice o\er to 
the post commissary, taking his receipt for the same. After 
Lieutenant Durgin's company had been transferred to the 



^-In/zj' Life at Long L^laiid. 



i6 




IRA A. HILL -Co. A 



\1-;k i;|.;', axT-Co. D. 




-» 




JAMES A. BRYANT -Co. D. 




A. C. HAIXHS — Co. 0. 



164 I liv Fiftccntli Xt'w Hampshire W^liiuiccrs. 

"James S. Green," instead of proceeding by the " Ouincy," 
as at first intended b)- the embarking officers, he applied to 
Colonel Beckwith to be released from the "Ouincy" and 
assigned to the "James S. Green," so as to make the voyage 
with his own command. But the change could not be 
readily effected, and so it chanced that he entered upon this 
unknown voyage with strangers, there having afterwards 
been assigned to his boat three companies of the Forty- 
second Massachusetts and sixteen men of a New York 
regiment. The voyage of the "Ouincy" was without special 
incident, except that one of the men died during the passage, 
and received a sailor's burial. A plank was rested in a level 
position, with one end on the rail, and the body prepared 
thereon by being sewn in a canvas with a weight at the feet. 
The engines were stopped for a brief season while a burial 
service was read, men inclined the plank, the body shot off 
into the sea, feet downward, and immediately sank from 
view. The good ship then proceeded on her way. 



Aniiv Life at Low:: Island. 



165 




JOSIAH B. PHILBRICK-CO. D. (Seepage .5.) 



1 66 The Fifteenth Xcio Hampshire I'oluntccrs. 

The Voyage of the "James S. Gkeex." 

The officers aboard the "James S. Green" were Lieuten- 
ant-colonel Frost ; Captain Aldrich and Lieutenants Cogswell 
and Hendley, of Company A ; Captain Johnson and Lieu- 
tenant Chadwick, of Company D ; Lieutenant Perkins, of 
Company H, and Assistant Surgeon Towle. Sergeant-major 
W'allingford was also aboard. They ()ccui)ied a little cabin 
away aft, about 13 x 10x7 feet, which, in a height of se\en 
feet, was fitted with three tiers of bunks, tweh'e in all. The 
officers, with their serxants and an hos})ital nurse — Eben 
Joy — numbered thirteen, so that one of the number slept on 
the deck. The "Green" was a frail craft, built for the 
Delaware & Chesapeake Canal Company, and never designed 
for the tempestuous \'oyage on which she now entered. At 
this time there were natural inland waters connected by 
canals, from the upper Mississippi to the great lakes and 
there by the Erie to the Hudson, and thence again to the 
Delaware river and bay and the Chesapeake and Albemarle ; 
and again b}' narrow sounds and otherwise along the coast, 
with a few little gaps to fill, across Florida to Appalachee, 
Fensacola, the Rigolets, and Ponchartrain and New Orleans 
and the river again — and for these waters she was con- 
structed. But she could not now navigate these inner and 
safe waters without falling into the hands of the enem)-. 

The officers and crew of the "James S. Green" won the 
love and admiration of all by their unwavering courtesy, skill, 
and seamanship. The captain of the boat was a dapjK^r 
little man, of small talk, whose name was John D. Marsham. 
But our chief mate was, especially, a good naturcd, fat man, 
whose countenance beamed with benevolence and whose 
great, kuidly face was lumiuous as the full, rountl moon. 
Me was one Ca]it. W'a^h Willis, a \ery lo_\al and i)atriotic 
man, who shortly before had l)een captured b}' a Confederate 
craft — the " leff Davis" — carried in to St. Augustine, antl 



The I'oyaj^,.- of t/ic "Jaiiics S. Gncii." \6j 




CORP. JOHN C. BLAKE — Co. A. 



1 68 The Fifteenth Xeic Hampshire W^litnteers. 

thence escaixxl to the ()i)en ocean in a row boat, whence he 
was rescued b}' a passing;- \essel. Instead of our own com- 
missar}-, Lieutenant l)urL;in, we had one luhvaid W. I'hilHps. 
Our boat was fulh" i)ro\isioned, and at the last moment took 
on fresh beef and ti\e tons of ice. 

The "Green" was fitted up between decks, for nearly 
her whole length on both sides, with berths like shehes in a 
pantr\-. Two could lie in each of these side b\- side, but 
could b}' no means sit upright. Tliis left amidships a long, 
narrow stretch of deck, which was onl\' occujiiecl \)\ a cooking 
range and its various accompanying utensils and kettles and 
tubs. This and the upper deck were free to all. 

It was on the afternoon of Monda}-, December the first, 
which was cold and rain\-, that this little band embarked at 
the South ferr_\', and at 3 o'clock the tiny but gallant craft 
pushed out into the stream and anchored. All chu' of the 
second, which was \-er\' pleasant, she la\- there with manv 
other steamers around, and some jiassing out to sea with 
banners flying and bands ])la_\ing, all laden with tro<ips to 
their utmost capacit)'. The third was cloudx' and coUl with 
some rain. At 6.30 a. .m. the bells in the engine room were 
heard to strike, and as he inillecl a i^olished lexer, the engineer 
said, "good b\'e, New \'ork.'" There was an instant tremor 
as mighty forces were ap])lied. and the gootl ship forged 
ahead. After steaming down the harbor twenty-two miles, 
the boat sought shelter within Sand\' Hook, untler the loft}', 
red banks of the jerse\- shore, not \enturing outside the 
lower ba}' on account of the threatening aspect of the sk}-. 
There were three lighthouses at hand and a fort in ])rocess of 
construction. Some \isited the shore in the shi])'s dory. 
Sandy Hook is the northern terminus of one of the most 
remarkable formations of nature -an almost continuous 
reach of narrow islands and peninsulas, that stretch along 
the coast from this point to Mexico, broken onl\- b} narrow 



I 



I 
i 



The ]'oyagc of the ''Javics S. Gircu.'^ 169 

inlets, and which find their most perfect dexelopment at 
Pamhco and Albemarle sounds on the coast of the old north 
state. The}' are of pure white sand, washed u}) from the 
ocean's bed, and are fore\-er changini;- under the ceaseless 
influence of wind and tide. Might}' ram])arts the}' are, 
guarding- the fruitful land from the fur}' of the sea, and in 
thought of which man's greatest work is utter!}' insignificant 
and contemptible. 

Soon after midnight the boat resumed her course. The 
boys grew \er}' merry as night fell, and their mirth rose to 
such a pitch of hilarity as to disturb the peace and dignity of 
the whole shiix Artists of e\'er}' craft of earth were repre- 
sented in our arm}', and our ventriloquists aboard were \'ery 
clever performers. The}' sawed wood ; stroke b}' stroke the 
harsh instrument iiiacle its way through the stick, and then 
something would fall with a crash to the deck. Presently 
many voices were trying their skill at various imitations. 
Roosters crowed, bulls bellowed, and lions roared till they 
made night hideous. Lieutenant Perkins, of the Com]wn}' 
H boys, was ofihcer of the da}', and came frequently forward 
to command quiet. He ascended some steps from the 
officers' little cabin at the stern, and walked along the upper 
deck, which sprung beneath his hea\'y tread, but when he 
appeared down the hatch to give off his stern orders, all 
were asleep and snoring in the most stentorian terms. 
Though it was his place to command silence and discipline, 
the lieutenant himself could scarce conceal his risibilities 
at the irrepressible mirth within. 

It seems there are some who nexer sleep, and like ocean's 
tide, never tire nor rest. lu|uilibrium, once disturbed, is 
never restored. With endless \'ariet}' of innocent pranks the 
night wore away. The coming day was beautiful in the 
extreme, and wonderfully enchanting Atlantic City a[)peared 
on the low distant shore as we swept b\' in the far offing. 



1 70 Tilt Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire J \^lunteers. 

Many flocks of wild L,^eese arc flyini;- oxer us toward \\\q 
south. W'c passed Cajic Ma\' at noon, and the oj^positc coast 
of Delaware ba}- slow!)- rises to view o\-er the \ast rotundity 
of the rex'ohin^ globe. \'eril\', now the old world has 
passed awav and there is a new heaxen and earth, and one 
feels a strange thrill as the realit}- is forced upon him that he 
now hath no abiding place, and is but an insignificant mite, 
held for a brief season by an inxisible power to a flying orb, 
whose track is the Zodiac and whose speed outruns the 
imagination. 

Bright is the autumn da_\' as we j^ass Capes Charles and 
Henry and steam into the broad mouth of Chesapeake bay. 
Eastwai'd is seen the dark rim of the ocean, whose boundless 
realms s])arkle with a million scintillations. Gulls tiash their 
white wings aboxe us, and countless denizens of the deep 
disport themselves by leaping in air and displaying a won- 
drous dexterity. Even the creatures of the sea are naturally 
plaxful, and we are attracted toward their bright faces as to 
fellow mortals and brothers in the mxsterious race of life. 
The soul here can now loose itself from earthly clods, and 
wander freely about the universe, with the stars in regions of 
eternal space ; especialh' so at night. We are plimging 
south ; the as]x'ct of the hea\-ens changes ; ])olaris sinks 
toward the horizon, and far below the trojjics, in dreamy 
distances from out the \anishing point of sight, sti"ange con- 
stellations rise into \iew. 

At sunrise of the fifth, off the X'irginia coast ; raining ; 
wind southeast. The weather being threatening, the skipper 
jMit into liampton Roads, and dropped anchor off I*"ortress 
]\Ionroe at 2 v. m. ; wind northeast. Some three hundred 
craft sought shelter hei'e to i-ide out the night ; the grim, old 
fort. l}ing low on the margin of the water, frowns like the 
face of nature as the g]oom\- night settles down. Many 
warshir)s are in sii:ht. and e\ei'\thinL' bears an e.xcessix'ch' 



The J\vagL' of t/ic ''/(Hiiu's S. G/vc/i." 171 

warlike appearance. Here, March 8, the Confederate iron- 
clad, " X'irginia," destro\-ed the "Congress" and "Cumber- 
land," and next day was defeated by the " Monitor." 

Got under way with the wind west northwest. I'assed 
Cape Henry at 10 o'clock, with Cape Charles just in \iew 
across a wide expanse. About fifty sailing craft are passing 
out with us on to the bosom of the broad Atlantic. The 
scene is most beautiful and animated. As we sjDed on, 
numerous wrecks could be seen along the X'irginia and North 
Carolina coasts. The shores are in sight, and their margin 
shows to the eye a series of shifting sand dunes at regular 
intervals of about a half a mile. Back of these, dense forests 
of what appear to be pine approach within a mile or two of 
the water, and present a solid front to the ocean like a \ast 
and sullen army. It apj^arently watches the sea as an 
invincible enemy whose barriers are distinctly marked. It 
crowds eagerly up to the last inch of the bound which the 
ocean has set, and there its foot is stayed as though the 
angry waves were saying, "Thus far shalt thou go and no 
farther." 

Passing Nag's Head at sunset and nearing the stormy 
Hatteras, where the sea is always wild, rounded the cape in 
the night, and for many an hour the frail craft was tossed 
about like a mere leaf. While so laboring, a mighty steamer, 
that loomed abo\e her like a giant, rushed by, almost grazing 
her sides. Many were sick to that degree that they little 
cared whether the boat weathered the point or not. It was 
really a very trying time to many a boy now, for the first 
time, away from home and mother. Bitter, homesick tears 
were shed in silence. There was no audible complaint or 
murmur and no one to comfort. The scene during this night 
was indescribable. A small knot of men were at prayers 
away down front where the lantern swung so dismall}'. I do 
not remember of seeing those gentlemen so engaged in 
fair weather, and presumed it was another case where 



172 The Fifteenth Xci^' HavipsJiiir ]'o//nitccrs. 

•• When tlie dt-vil was sick. 

The devil a saint would 1)l' ; 
But when the devil was well. 
The devil a saint was he." 

The sinccrit}' of one of these praxini; men, whose hand 
rested on the latlder. was se\-erel)- tested when a eomrade 
descendini;- ernshed his hni;ers. He immediatel}- l^roke off 
his pra\er, and gave utterance to a string of ejaculations that 
were supposed to be offensive to the Lord, but highly 
plea.sing to the de\il ; and the joll}' George Dawson grabbed 
the kneeling l^rainerd b\- the heels, and dragged him across 
the deck. 

.So, through it all, a fortunate few ga\' spirits were engaged 
in the most e.\tra\-agant merriment. A picture of " I^liza 
Jane," which had been ]nirloined from a saloon in l^rooklxn, 
was on exhibition. Barrels of beef and pork, tubs of food, 
and all loose things slid back and forth and uj) and down the 
deck as the little steamer rolled from sitle to side, and j^tched 
her nose toward hea\-en and now toward the ocean's floor. 
Boys mounted them astride like horses, and rode back and 
forth at a furious gait. How the rudder chains raced through 
and through their ii'on hawse-holes ! The howling blast and 
the seething (^cean without and the confusion within were 
deafening. The timbers creaked and the berths sprimg 
inward as mountainous billows put their huge shoulders 
against the xessel's sides. When there was an instant calm, 
as the ship righted herself from a staggering blow, the l)o\s 
would trim tlieii" affairs for anothei" flight. Time and again 
one would motml a barrel, holding aloft the jtictiu-e like an 
auctioneer, and conmience, "one more exhibition ot ' ]'!li/a 

Noii:. It is interesting to nnte the a-e ot' these luiys. I'rolialily 
C"on-i|)an\- I) ahoard would show a tail' av.-ra^e of the whole. Of these, 
who niunhered .SfS enlisted men. 4S were under 22 years ot" a^e. 30 under 
21. 2<) under 20. 2^ under K). and ig were I S or undei'. 



The Wn'agc of the ''James S. Green." 173 

Jane,' " when with a hirch all would i;c) clown the deck, and 
bring' up at the end with a thundering crash. 

Sunday, the se\-enth, at 8 a. m. off Cape Lookout ; wind 
high and northwest ; sea ver}' rough ; breeze continues through 
the night. It is cold, and nearly all are sick again ; but how- 
ever the ship is buffeted, her engines work ceaselessly on, and 
rapid progress is made down the coast. We feel the tremor 
of the engines night and day. We are constantly in sight of 
the land, and many a seasick boy would give the world to be 
put ashore, and renounce the ocean forever, though so grand, 
so enchanting, so mighty, mysterious, and beautiful. It is 
the enemy's country we behold, but seemingly peaceful and 
fruitful as Eden. 

On the eighth the sea was quite smooth, with a light 
northwest wind. At 7 a. m. off Georgetown ; a lighthouse 
in sight ; weather warm ; sky clear. At 9 a. m. passed 
Cape Romain and the mouth of the Santee river. At i i in 
sight of the bkjckade at Bull's island. At i p. m. passed the 
blockaders off Charleston ; there were twelve or fifteen of 
them within a distance of five to ten miles. Schools of 
dolphin are jumping in the air and gamboling about the ship. 
Heard cannonading, and saw flashes of guns and smoke 
rising in the direction of Charleston. At 9 in the evening- 
ran alongside the lightship, off Heaufort, and lay till morning, 
when signals were made for a pilot ; but none appearing, the 
captain fell into a pet, and after scraping the flues, at 10 in 
the morning of the ninth the shij-) again pursued her course. 
And now some of the bovs who had been trailing a line 
and hook for two or three days inilled in the first fish, a 
Spanish mackerel. 

While at Beaufort we were within hailing distance, almost, 
of the Third and Fourth New Hampshire regiments, and 
which contained very many old neighbors and schoolmates 
and mutual friends. The Londonderr}' squad alone had four 
brothers there. 



174 



The Fiftccjith Xcw HavipsJiiir / 'oliiutccrs. 



Day beautiful and tranquil as the ]ierfect da}' in June ; 
running;- clown the Georgia coast out of sight of land. The 
boys are well again, and swarm the deck, renewed in spirit 
and hapjn' as the face of hea\en and sunny ocean. What 
has been endured is forgotten now, for all are schooled in the 
world sufficient to expect the bitter with the sweet, and to 
know that mortals, for e\er\- joy, must suffer a tliousand 
pangs. In bo^•hood da}'s all had longed for such a \-oyage as 
this, but now the reality proxes as different from youthful 
anticipations as are the stern realities of life from love's 
young dream. There are musical ones who lift uji their 
voices, and sing many songs appropriate to the sea ; and as 
the gladsome day ended, the great, red globe of the sun — it 
never seemed so huge — sank down into the ocean in a blaze of 
prismatic glor)' so grand and vast and indescribable. The full, 
round moon rises from the ocean, and sails aloft in wontlrous 
majest}'. Man}' muse in silence who are true poets o! 
nature, but denied the gift to express themsehes. If man is 
but half himself and expression is the other half, tlien multi- 
tudinous mortals are but fractions longing for the missing 
]xn-t that shall make them whole. Their bosoms are ever 
on the point of bursting, and such unfortunate ones must 
finall}' die with all their music in them. 

The morning of the tenth was \er\- delightful, but a smart 
breeze sprang u}) from the northward, and it soon grew wild 
and angry. At 7 in the morning, off St. .Augustine, where 
the Sexenth Xew Hampshire now la\-. Laiul in sight co\- 
ered with forests ; these trees are saitl to be li\e oak and 
wild orange. At 9 in the afternoon, off Cape C"ana\'eral. 

'idle elexenth. a most beautiful summer da}' : wind east ; 
sea rough. Still running down the hdorida coast, with the 
shore in plain \iew and cattle and horses sometimes in sight. 
At 12.30, off Jupiter Inlet. Flying fish skip from crest to 
crest of wa\-es. 



TJic Wu'agc of the ''JaviiS S. Grau." 175 

At sunrise of the twelfth, off the Hghthouse on Carey's 
Reef; the magnificent steamer. "Stamford." lies aground 
about one mile from the light. She sailed from New ^'ork 
with troops. Men can be seen aboard. Off Carreyforcl light 
at 10 o'clock ; passed the wreck of an linglish bark, lying on 
her beam's ends with her masts gone b}' the board ; weather 
calm, mercury standing at So degrees; Sombrero's light at 
5 p. M., destined for Key West, seventy-two miles distant. 
We tested the vision of the gulls flying above us in the air, 
by tossing bits of food into the ship's boiling wake, which 
stretches back over the smooth sea for a xast distance, mark- 
ing the course she came. These birds would swoop down 
into the seething water, and seize the tiniest morsel. Their 
evolutions are wonderful to behold ; tireless they are on the 
wing. Night and day they are always there ; to sustain such 
powers they are \-oracious consumers of such fish as swim 
near the surface, and sometimes seize u})on clams and o)'sters. 
with which the)- soar to a great altitude and let them fall 
upon the rocks below to break the shell. And their vision is 
so acute that it would seem from the upper regions of the air 
they might behold the people in the harvest fields of the 
moon, or see the ruins of old cities there. There is no more 
delightful spot on earth than this semi-tropical sea, or that is 
more interesting on account of historic association. We are 
in the Gulf Stream, the mightiest of all earth's rivers ; we 
sailed for a time in this wonderful river off Hatteras, and its 
margin was said to be distinctly defined by its color being so 
different from that of the general ocean. Here it is a trojMcal 
river whose waters are warmer than those of the equatorial 
regions. Its current has a velocity of five miles per hour, is 
eighty miles broad at this point, and much deeper than the 
ocean through which it flows, it having scooped for itself in 
ceaseless ages a channel in the ocean's floor. The Amazon, 
the Orinoco, the Rio Grande and the Mississippi all run far 



176 The Fiftcmth Xcw Hain/s/iiir W^luiitccrs. 

out to sea, with margins as sharply defined as those of the 
sliore, and all enij^t}' into the gulf to swell this onward jxjuring 
fiood. Like to the pontic tide, it knows no retiring ebb, but 
flows due on to the pole, and laps otherwise frozen continents 
in its warm embrace, causing them to bloom with verdure and 
wa\-e with fields of grain. 

A ship on our northern coast in winter, wheii laden with 
ice to the pcnnt of foundering, turns to the Gulf Stream, and 
her ice chains melt from her hull and masts and spars like 
summer rain. At such a time a bank of fog like a wall 
marks the edge of the stream, and when crossing the margin 
a difference of thirty degrees has been marked between the 
prow and stern. The waters now lie j^erfectl}' still and 
placid, and reflect the inverted face of hea\-en like a mirror. 

Looking down into these fathomless depths of limpid water, 
we behold a beauty of color and liquid tints of green and blue 
that are trul}- astonishing. At night, ofttimes, the whole 
ocean is alive with phosphorescent life, and now b}- day in 
those pure depths countless creatures flash in the sunshine 
and reflect all the colors of the rainbow. What enchanting 
kingdoms arc below us and peopled with beauteous and happy 
intelligencies. But so endless and manifold is it all that what 
we see is little, what we do not see is infinite. A fish is a 
bird that flies in these waters, and a bird is a fish that swims 
in the air ; but man is a plantigrade animal, bound by ponder- 
ous weight to the deck, unless his thoughts fly forth of him 
and li\e in sea and sk\' and excrywhere. Hut man must soar 
also, deem the flxing world a steed, and he its rider, shooting 
with the stai-s. 

Tlie Hahamas are just to our left, and we are near the one 
which was the first land discoxered b\- Columbus, and which 
at the time was pLoplctl with Indians ar.d was \ery fresh and 
beautiful, and •' covered with trees like a continual orchard." 
The earlv .Spaniards navigated these seas, and explored 



The ]'oyai^c of the ''James S. Green." \yj 

the adjacent land in search of " Kl Dorado " and the spring 
of perpetual youth. The neighboring shore presents a long 
line of snowy-white beach, and crowding up to it stand the 
primeval forests, reaching out their giant arms and casting a 
deep and refreshing shade. The scene is one of peace and 
inexpressible beauty beneath the rays of the setting sun. As 
the ship plows along, schools of flying fish start into the air 
and occasionalh' light on the deck. One of these is caught 
and placed in a bucket of sea water and examined with great 
interest. It is eight inciies long, back dark blue, sides light 
blue, white beneath, body round, head and mouth small ; the 
e\e is \ery intelligent. It has a pair of large wings just 
back of the head and a pair of smaller ones further down the 
spine. The learning of all our schools is as nothing com- 
pared with what this little thing may know about the king- 
doms of the deep. Our captain had a purpose in holding a 
course in still water, outside the Gulf Stream, as he thereby 
avoided stemming its adverse current of five miles per hour, 
and made that much more actual advance, and he would take 
advantage of this current on the return voyage. 

But farewell now, these delightful regions of sea and sky 
and shore. We shall see the Florida coast no more — the 
land of the Suwanee ri\-er — a land of tropical fruits and 
flowers and birds of bright plumage, and grand old forests 
that everywhere ring with the mocking bird's song. 

Incidents, amusing and otherwise, occur at sea. While 
passing Hatteras in the storm, Simeon Stevens, of Company 
A, who was not sick, and busied himself assisting those who 
were, went on deck on some errand, when the captain of the 
boat shouted to him to keej) below. Simeon replied, " I can 
do a few chores for the bo}-s," and the captain said, " I tell 
you what it is ; if xou go overboard, I can't stop to pick 
you up." One morning the engineer let steam into a closed 



178 The Fiftcoith Xci^' Havipshiir I'oluntccrs. 

barrel of potatoes to cook them, when sometjiie, deeming the 
supply insufficient, gave it another half turn, and off went 
the barrel with a tremendous ])ang, scattering sta\es and 
hoops and mashed potatoes everywhere about the deck. 

On the night of the tenth the boat came near striking a 
reef, when she was run into the Gulf Stream for safet}'. It 
was very rough, and during the night a hatch went b}- the 
board, opening w\> a great square hole in the ship's side, and 
the sleepers in the contiguous berths barely escaped sliding 
into the sea. Some of their belongings were so lost. These 
men who so narrowly escaped were George H. Page, James 
Sanborn, A. H. Roberts, Edwin E. Wetherell, and Ed. P. 
Lane, all of Company D. We pass magnificent steamers 
and stateh' ships and }-)altimore clippers, with their broad, 
white wings aslant, scudding along like sea birds. 

We are now steaming south of the Morida Ke\s, that 
innvmierable archipelago of little islands. At 7 a. m. of the 
thirteenth we are in sight of l)r)- Tortugas ; weather fine ; 
good breeze ; sea rough. It is Saturda)'. Here the captain 
runs up the pilot fiag. The pilot comes aboard at 10 o'clock. 
He is a tall, raw-boned, coarse fellow, with a red shirt and 
broad-brimmed hat, and barefooted. We ha\c now run down 
the latitudes till we are below the twent}-fifth parallel, and 
are almost touching the Tropic of Cancer, which is the 
boundary line of the torrid zone and lies twcnU-threc antl a 
half degrees abo\e the ec|uator, directh' under the sun when he 
has reached his most northern altitude in our sunnner time. 
The sun is now in the fai' south, \erticall\- o\er the Tropic of 
Capricorn. At such time his slanting ra)s just fringe the 
Arctic circle, leax'ing that circular domain about the pole in 
the earth's shadow, hound up in night and ice and all the 
rigors of a ])olar winter. We, howexer. are now in a region 
of iK'r])etual sununei', and where the mirage often hangs 
inxerted ships and cities in the sky. 



The ]^oyagc of the ''James S. Green." 179 

The coral insect here, with the skeletons of its dead of 
countless generations and during unnumbered ages, has 
raised the ocean's floor till in many places it comes above the 
surface in numerous little snow-white islands. Some of them 
howe\-er are said to have acquired a soil and to flourish in 
tropical verdure. There is but little tide in these land-locked 
waters of the gulf and Carribean Sea, else they would be 
submerged at every flow. 7\:)rtugas is one of these islands 
and situated far in the middle of a group. Fort Jefferson 
was being constructed on the largest, of eleven acres, and 
mounts 298 guns, and covered the whole surface. To reach 
it the boat pursues a de\'ious passage, winding in and out 
among a maze of these coral islets on whose submerged edges 
she often grates harshly. The channel is said to be known 
only to our government pilots, and so the fort is safe from 
the approach of an enemy. We came to the wharf at i i , 
A. M. While a gang of men are wheeling coal aboard from a 
little mountain which the government has stored here, we 
explore the island and the fort. The coral of which, the 
whole group is composed, is snowy in its whiteness and 
branchy in form. Beautiful specimens can be obtained. 
Conch shells lie around the margin of the water. Clumps of 
cocoanut trees grow within the fort on imported soil. As 
the swell of the ocean never penetrates here, all is hushed, 
and the scene is calm, restful, and languid. The waters are 
wonderfully transparent, and all their living creatures and the 
clean white ocean's floor are clearly seen. The walls of this 
fort are forty feet thick, and not yet completed, manvmascMis 
still working on them. I'hey are constructed with massixe 
outside and inside faces of brick work, the interior filled in 
with the universal coral. A moat forty feet wide, filled with 
water, surrounds the whole. There are four or five small 
islands close by Tortugas, on one of which was a lighthouse ; 
on another, thirty or forty of the Seventh New Hamj^shire 



l8o The Fifteenth Xei^^ Hampshire J'ohiiiteers. 

were buried. A narrow reef runs out a mile, on which are 
some trees and scores of black hogs. Left at sunset for 
Ship Island, 450 miles distant. 

At sunrise of Sunday, the fourteenth, we were in the gulf, 
120 miles from Tortugas. F'resh breeze all the night, sea 
\-ery rough, weather clear, wind northeast. 

The fifteenth was a very pleasant day, somewhat cloudy, 
good breeze, sea not so rough as yesterday. 

At noon we were 350 miles north northwest from Tortugas ; 
but as night comes down, what a change creeps o\-er the face 
of nature ! 7^he clouds are wild, the wind wails and shrieks 
through the rigging ; the ship's officers and crew look busily 
about. Our good natured mate says, " It's going to be a 
rough night ! " This that is coming down on us is what 
they call a " Xorther." Old Xeptune shakes his trident, 
and the ocean begins to roar, and even now our good ship 
feels the coming storm, and spanks her stern madly down in 
the rising sea. Hut the dol|)hins are at their sport. The}' 
swim with their backs partl_\- out of water, and in their ])lay 
are continuall}' leaping into the air. A school ot these 
happy creatures so leaping, catch a glimpse of the ship, and 
in an incredibh' short space are all around it and di\ing 
beneath the keel to inspect it on all sides. rhe\' (.nit through 
the water like an arrow, leaxing a white streak behind them 
beneath the surface. The stormy jx'trels, Mother Oarex 's 
chickens — harbingers of the coming storm — are flitting 
about in \ast numbers oi" sitting on the water, rising and 
falling with the wa\es or running rapidl\- around on the 
surface, as do our robins on the land. They look like 
swallows. 

.At midnight the wind was blowing a hurricane, (ioing 
now on deck, what a raging sea we behold and what a deal- 
ening clanioi" of the elements I The boat labors and groans 
in e\er\' timber ; she niounts the wa\e with prow high in air, 
j)oises for an instant, then phingcs downwai'd into the tiough 



The W^'agc of tJic '■'■ Javics S. Gircii." iSi 

as though she would dash her nose on the ocean's floor. 
And in the midst of all this, at 2 o'clock in the morning, the 
steering gear broke down. The rudder post, of 3-inch round 
iron, projected through the upper deck, and there, by a yoke, 
was connected with chains running to the wheel house. An 
iron spline had dropped out, permitting the yoke to revolve 
loose, thus detaching the rudder ; but a tiller lay here for such 
emergencies, and this being put in position, for want of an 
efficient fastening, also gave out, and the boat was then at 
the mercy of the storm. In the bewildering din the crew 
worked like the heroes they were. They could be heard 
scurrying about the upper deck, and soon had rigged a 
spanker, which, as the engines worked on, held the ship's 
head to the wind, and on a course transverse to the ridge of 
the sea, till the rudder could be repaired. The gale abated 
in the morning, and the ocean, by some peculiar refraction or 
optical illusion, appeared to ascend in all directions from our 
central position, as though the little craft was at the bottom 
of a vast watery basin, whose margin e\'erywhere was the 
distant horizon. Nature now calmed her ruffled mien, and 
the dissipated senses of puny man returned again to their 
wonted sphere. \\q had been driven far to the southward, 
but at 4 in the afternoon we passed through the blockading 
fleet off Mobile. 

This was Tuesday, the sixteenth, a very quiet da}'. There 
were seven great, grim warships in sight. One approaches 
us, whose officers scan us closely with glasses, and soon a 
trumpet voice came across the water demanding, " What ship 
is that.'" Our dapper little captain shouts through his 
hands, "The James S. Green." "Where from.'" "New 
York." "Where bound.'" "Ship Island." "What have 
you aboard.'" "United States troops." After scanning us 
still further they apparently concluded that w^e were all right ; 
our engines did not stop. But they opened their portholes, 
guns protruded, and men stood by with the lanyard. Fort 



I82 



The Fiftcoith Xc\^' Ilavipshirc J 'olmitccrs. 



Morgan was in plain view, H\ini;- the Confederate flag. 
Near midnight we anchored at Ship Island, and a barren scene 
it was — low, flat, sandy, with a few trees on the western end, 
from which the gloomy southern mosses depended in the 
wind. Three or four thousand soldiers were encamped here. 
From this point the lughth Xew Hampshire made its way 
into the enem}'s country by the Rigolets and lakes Borgne 
and Pontchartrain. We sh^all meet with this regiment later, 
when to know of its ])resencc was a source of inspiration and 
comfcjrt. 

At sunrise of the seventeenth the "James S. Green" 
w^as boarded by an officer who gave orders for it to proceed to 
Xew Orleans, and in two hours more the good shij:) was again 
under way. At Shij) Island, three or four other islands were 
in sight, one of which was a rounded \\\) heap of sand that 
looked one hundred feet high, and white as the winter snow. 
The da\' is a most delightful one, the mercury standing at 
60". Reached Pass I'Outre at 8 in the exening, and anchored 
for the night just outside the bar which the might}- currents 
from the delta here maintain ; for when its onward floods are 
checked bv meeting the still waters of the gulf, the sediment 
with which the}- are freighted dr()})s to the liottom. 'i'hus, 
debris from the mountains of the far north is poured into the 
ocean in quantities sufficient almost to build new continents 
in the .South. These turbid currents proclaim the ri\er long 
before land appears in sight ; and chopping buckets now 
into the seeiuing unbroken ocean, the water is found to be 
fresh and a \ery pleasant draught after a long \o}age with 
onl}- the nauseating water froni the ship's casks, or that 
condensed from the boilers. The watei' o\er the bar is xery 
shoal, and onl\- \essels of light draft can enter. The pilot 
comes aboard in the morning, takes the helm, and at suni'ise 
the ship steers foi" the channel. Here and there isolated 
tufts of coarse grasses appear in a boundless waste of water, 
but which as we proceed more and more predominate, till 



The Wyyai^c of the ''James S. Gireii." 183 

far up wc find ourselves in a well defined stream. Myriads 
of great birds are in the air, flapping their broad, glossy 
black wings, and in such \ast numbers as to almost darken 
the day. It is one hundred miles up stream to New Orleans. 
The scene is dismal and oppressive in the extreme. At the 
head of the pass the shores are lined with cypress trees of 
stinted gnnvth. 

Note. Extract from a letter: •• The negroes on the shore seem pleased 
to see us, and look as though they understood what we were here for: and 
from what I have seen of them at Fort Jefferson, Ship Island, and along 
here, I find they appear much more intelligent than I supposed. The 
plantations, manv of them, appear to be deserted by whites, but what 
are here appear to be Union. One woman with a dirty dress on, which 
hung like a shirt on a pole, came out and hurrahed for JetT Davis. The 
bovs asked her where she got her hoops, and told her to dry up. Some- 
times wliole tamilies of whites, darkies and all, come out and stand on the 
bank and cheer us. The orange groves are laid out in rows about twenty 
feet apart, the trees touching each other in the rows, and some of them 
contain a number of acres. I think I never saw so fine a sight as one of 
these loaded with fruit. I should think there were two or three bushels 
on some of them : they sell for fifty cents per one hundred. We have 
just passed a plantation of sugar cane nmre than a mile in length and one 
half mile wide. The negroes who were at work cutting the cane came 
down to the bank, and took off their hats and bonnets. Someone asked 
them where their master was. " O, he done gone Norf," was the answer. 
I think when the war is over, we had better come out here and get one of 
these places and go to raising sugar. I have got one picked out already. 
Nine o'clock i". si. We have just arrived at the great cit}-, and dropped our 
anchor. Once more we are in hopes to get ashore to-morrow, which will 
make twenty days since I came on board, during which time our feet ha\e 
touched the shore Init once, and that but a few hours at Tortugas. I am 
hoping to find letters here from home, as I know you must have written 
before this. I can hardly realize that I am 2,000 miles away from my 
dearest earthly treasures. The whole voyage seems like a dream, but a 
pleasant one. We certainly have not seen much of the stern realities of 
war }et, but perhaps we shall before long; if so, I trust we shall be ready 
to meet them, and shall endeavor to do our part toward sustaining the 
union of the states, the importance of which I am more than ever 
convinced of."' 



1 84 The Fifteenth . Wzi- HavipsJiire ] 'olunteers. 

\\ 1 I A. M., passed I-'orts Jackson and St. Philip. 
Further up we reach a land teeniin-^ with foison and j^lenty ; 
orange groves and rich plantations, witli their mansion houses 
and villages of negro quarters, white as snow, the whole 
embowered in grand old trees. It is the season of ripe 
oranges, and soldiers along the banks make repeated efforts 
to throw them aboard ; none however succeed, but occa- 
sionally one strikes the ship's side. The broad plantations of 
cane look like fields of waving corn, and it being the time of 
harvest, gangs of negroes are cutting it down and hauling it 
with mule teams to the sugar mills. Back of the plantations 
the i)rospect terminates in unbroken forests of cypress, 
heavily draped in the perennial moss, and stand there api:)ar- 
ently in eternal silence. 

We approach the Crescent cit}' after dark, at 8.30 in the 
e\-ening, and the lights glowing in the wide arc on the lex'ce 
along the city front are wonderfully beautiful, and rcHect in 
the tremulous surface of the ri\-er. This was Thursday, 
December 18, and a most l:)eautiful da}-. Surgeons came 
aboard at quarantine. 

At 10 o'clock on the moining of tlie nineteenth, ran u]) to 
Carrollton, just abo\e New Orleans, and disembarked, haxing 
been on the boat nineteen da}s near!}-. Went into caniji just 
outside tlie \-illage, one-haH" mile back from tlie rixcr, on the 
north side of the famous Sliell Road, wliich leads to New 
Orleans, peifectl}' sti'aight and lexel and surfaced with ovster 
shells, which ground down b\- wear, making a surface as white 
as chalk. The lelief telt on landing can be Ix'ttei" imagined 
than described, and spirits rose at once to their normal con- 
dition. All landsmen now ex]-)erienced for the first time a 
peculiar sensation while their sea legs were still on, tor none 
could walk without s\\a\'ing, antl the good old solid frame ot 
the earth itself for sexeral hours seemed to swim with the 
motion of tlie l)o;it. Oreat clumps of fan ]ialms dotteil the 



The ]\^'agc of tJic '■'James S. Gtrai." 185 

broad fields back of the camp ground. W'e were encamped 
right on the edge of Carrollton, and when retired to our 
white tents at night could hear incessant crowing of cocks 
and barking of innumerable dogs. As the boat drew up to 
Carrollton, Orderly Pickermg saw on the shore an old 
neighbor and friend, Matthew Cuher, of the I{ighth New 
Hampshire, who was laid off because of wounds recei\ed at 
Labadie\'ille in October pre\ious. 



1 86 The Fiftcctith Xc^^' Hampsliirc WTluntccrs. 

The \'()VA(;e of the "Prometheus." 

Xow when, because of the protest of Lieutenant-colonel 
Frost, a change was made b}' the embarkin<; officers whereby 
on!}- two companies, A and D, and nineteen men and a 
lieutenant- of Company H, as has been shown, were assigned 
to the "Green," then Company I and the residue of Company 
H returned to the old camp at Jamaica. The way on the 
march back was very muddy. They reached the camp 
ground at 7 o'clock in the evening, so completely exhausted 
that they could not pitch their tents, and so passed the night 
in the open air. 

On the afternoon of December 3 snow fell, which changed 
to a fine, drizzling rain, continuing till late into the evening. 
Just after dinner orders were received to break camp, and in 
the rain the balance of the regiment dropped the tents, and 
at 3.30 marched to Brooklyn, where, upon their arri\al, the 
bo}s were received by the ladies of that opulent borough 
witli the wildest enthusiasm and every demonstration of 
patriotism that loyal hearts could devise. Here they were 
quartered in the Brooklyn City Armor}-, and sle])t nights 
on the floor. The loyal people fed all most bounteously. 
r\nv of the names of these good peojile can now be ascer- 
tained ; but it is remembered that a Doctor Hurd. amid great 
jollity, presented the boys with a fine dressed hog weighing 
208 .V pounds. Among many such a Mrs. Hitchcock and 
young daughter, on llenr\- street, kept open house, and 
invited all soldiers to their tables. Lieutenant Moore, Ser- 
geants Courtland, Wallace, Orme, Corporal Trickc}', and 
]\Iusician llornev partook of tlieir hos])italit\' at supper, 
wlicre, witli many others, tliey feasted on o)sters. steaks, 
bread and butter, coffee, and apples. 

After breakfast of the fourth, Comixmies (i, 1^. and I, and 
the resichie of Company H marclied a mile to the wharf at 
South ferr)-, whence b}- the tug "May Be" the}' were trans- 



The \\\vagc of the '' Prometheus!' 187 

ferred to the new but small propeller, "Prometheus," which 
lay some distance out in the stream. This detachment was 
commanded by Colonel Kingman. It was nearl}' noon when 
the embarkation was completed. The march to the wharf 
was exhilarating, the band, which took passage on this boat, 
playing a quickstep, and the streets being crowded with 
cheering and enthusiastic citizens. 

As her suggestive name would indicate, the " Prometheus" 
was a splendid craft. All her lines were the perfection of 
utility and the shipwright's art, and she spread a cloud of 
snowy canvas that was a marvel of grace and beauty. It 
seems that small boats were selected for this service, as 
those of heavy draft could not pass the bar at the Mississippi 
delta. The boys were stowed aboard as were their comrades 
of the "James S. Green." On this day they had hard bread 
for dinner, a dish of coffee for supjier, and nothing for the 
next breakfast — a sudden change from plenty to the soldier's 
fare. 

At 2 p. M. of the fifth the boat gave three blasts of her 
whistle, and started on her voyage in a storm, the band 
placing "The Girl I Left Behind Me" ; and as the spires of 
the great city sank gradually below the horizon, all took a 
last but silent farewell of the mighty and loval Xorth — many 
of them never to see it more. On passing the forts, a shot 
was fired from one of their guns, throwing up a great jet 
when it struck the water. The night was a rough one, but 
toward morning the sea grew calmer, and the full, round 
moon shone down most gloriously on the wide expanse. 

The sixth was very cold, and all the declc and rigging was 
sheeted with ice. At dark it clouded up, and the wind rose 
to a gale. There was merriment aboard as the boat skipped 
o\er the stormy ocean, rolling from beam's end to beam's 
end and spilling occasional sleepers from their berths. 
Mighty billows swept the deck and j^oured down the hatches 



l88 The Fifteenth Xezc Ilainpslnre ]\>Iiiuteers. 

ill torrents, sometimes threatening; to engulf the sliip. She 
rolled so that the boats on deck dipped water and her signal 
lights were lost. About 12 o'clock a kettle containing a 
little grease, which stood on the furnace, took fire and 
blazed up furiously, upon which someone caught up a pail of 
oil, supposing it water, and dashed it upon the seething mass, 
and instantly the whole ship's galle}- was in flames. The cry 
of fire was raised, and there was momentar}' i)anic aboard ; 
but in a moment UKjre the sailors flooded it \\'\\\\ a stream of 
sea water from a great pumj) near-b)-, and the fire was 
subdued. 

7^he se\-enth was extremely cold and rough, and the decks 
were strewn with all loose things in inextricable confusion. 
One man was stabbed b\' being thrown upon his own dagger. 
In the ofificers' quarters broken furniture, swords, belts, 
watches and coats, and hats and boots are scattered every- 
where, and the officers themsehes are the embodiment of 
despair. About midnight anchored in Hampton Roads 
under the yery guns of Fortress Monroe, the decks, shrouds, 
and e\-ery part exposed to the air coated thick with 
ice, but which soon melted in the morning sun. At 2 
■o'clock in the morning it cleared off, and the moon shone out. 
On the other hand are the "Rip Raps," and not far off 
Hampton Court House is a beautiful spectacle in the land. 
The Sixteenth \ew Ham])shire came in this morning. There 
is a rumor that a boat went down with a Massachusetts regi- 
ment aboard, and all were lost. The " Trometheus " here had 
a \entilating jiipe jnit in. so that the hatches could be closed 
down and battened, and the prcixuations indicated a mighty 
struggle ahead with storm and raging billows. All are now 
reduced to hard bread and raw pork, as cooking is forbicKlen 
since the lire in the galley. 

The ninth was a \ery beautiful tlay. Sea birds fly about 
in countless nunfl)ers, which delight the sokliers nuich. The 



The Wiycigc of the '' Projiiethens.'" 189 

Chesapeake waters are broad and beautiful and animated 
with shipping. A British man-of-war came in to these 
waters, and received a sahite from the fort. 

Eleventh still warm and water smooth as a mirror, except 
when disturbed by the ever-present dolphins in their wild 
sports. The antics of these monsters are really laughable as 
they chase each other and sometimes leaping twenty feet out 
of the water, and the air about the vicinity of the ship is full 
of sea birds at their play. 

Late in the night of the twelfth sighted the lights of Hilton 
Head, and on the approach of day steamed into the harbor, 
where we were visited by the provost marshal and other 
officers, and after some delay ran alongside of a schooner 
and commenced to coal. 

About noon of the fourteenth a boat drew up and took off 
the Company H and I boys for a two hours' visit to the shore, 
upon whose return the rest were to enjoy a similar treat. 

Note. Extract from a soldier's diary. Corp. H. C. Paige, of Com- 
pany E: "Wednesday, the tenth. This is one of the most beautiful 
mornings that ever dawned upon the earth. The sun shone with all its 
beauty and splendor upon the Chesapeake. The captain came on board 
at 9 o'clock from Baltimore, wliere he had been to get a new pilot and 
some signal lights to replace those lost in the gale. At 10 o'clock the 
whistle sounded, and we bid farewell to these waters ; at half-past ten we 
passed Cape Henry lighthouse, and stood directly out to sea, bearing a 
southeasterly direction." 

Note. Extract from diary of Corporal Paige, of Company E : 
•• Passed Cape Hatteras at 6 o'clock and struck into the Culf .Stream, with 
water at blood heat. It was delicious to wash vour face and hands in its 
waters. We saw plenty of dolphins to-day playing about the ship. All 
day on the (_)cean without seeing a single sail or an\- land: the scene is 
magnificent: sounded at 10. and found no bottom: at 12, no bottom: 
at 2, forty fathoms: at 4.30, twenty-two fathoms: and leaving the Culf 
Stream make for land." 

'• Friday, the twelfth. The weather fair and beautiful: sea calm and 
everything lovely: passed one sail to-day: a pleasant sun all day." 



I go The I'iftciiith Xcix.' IlauipsJiii-c ]'oliiiitccrs. 

Meantime the rest were coalin.i; the shi[). Hut the H and I 
boys ()\ersta\ecl their time till dark, thus shirking their share 
of the work and apj^arenti}- overreaching the rest in the 
matter of their visit to this historic point. But as the coal- 
ing was not completed, on the next da}', which was Sunda_\-, 
Companies E and G took their turn at the shore, and were 
very cordially received and entertained b}- the Third New 
Hampshire. When they landed the Third was attending 
service and being addressed b\' their chai')lain, Henry C. Hill, 
from Proverbs 13:15: "The way of the transgressor is 
hard." He discoursed on the apocryphal Adam as the great 
primal transgressor, and alluded to Albert \\\ Lunt, a soldier 
who had been shot on the first day of the month for crime. 

Manv found old acquaintances and neighbors in the Third 
and l^\:)urth. and dined with them on beef, potatoes, soft 
bread and butter, cabbage, beet ]5ick]es, and coffee, which 
proved a great treat after the stewed }ieas, and minute and 
hasty puddings and molasses of the ship. 

This island ap])ears to ha\e sunk se\eral feet at no \ery 
remote period of its liistor}-, as there are the remains of tree 
trunks stantling in the water far out from the shore e\-en at 
low tide. During the absence of the 1^ and (j boys, the H 
and 1 boys rebelled against the menial serxice of sho\eling 

NOTIC. Extract fidiii Corjjoral I'ai^e's diary : " Saturcla}-, Dccfiiiher 
13. Tlie weatlier fair and ilcli.^htt'Lil : at S o'clock in si^ht of I'ort 
Roval : tiie .stars and strijics fjoatiiiii' there look licautit'ul in the sun. 
Ca.st anchor at 9.15 within a half mile of Fort Walker: two companies 
went ashore." 

" Sunday, the fourteenth. Warm, pleasant, and cloudy. We are 
here takinj.^ in coal. Went ashore at 9 o'clock and stayeil till 5. Saw a 
number from Manchester I knew, and was i;lad to see them. .Saw H. L. 
Davis, m\ nephew : he made me a jiresent of a splendid pi|)c. Saw the 
l)attle-i;round of Commodore I)u|)ont ami Sherman, and the etfects of 
the hattle tlieie. Attended service of the 'I'hird re-iment. and had a 
<rood time with the 1m)\s" 



TJic W^yagc of tJic '' Proiuctltcusy igi 

coal, and the captain was compelled to employ negroes in 
their stead. So on the whole it appears that the H and I 
boys, even so early in their career, were acquiring the tact and 
address of veterans. 

A hea\'y swell was rolling on the morning of the fifteenth 
as the " Prometheus" glided out once more u}3on the ocean's 
bosom, which now was animated with shii)ping, and a 
magnificent rainbow, glowing in all its prismatic hues, reared 
there its mighty arch. 

On the sixteenth, off the Florida coast, below Cape Cana- 
veral, under both steam and sail, no land in sight. 

At 4 o'clock of the seventeenth the wind was blowing a 
terrific gale, and the waves ran mountain high, and the night 
was far the roughest yet experienced. It will be remembered 
that the "James S. Green" encountered a "Norther" on 
the night of the sixteenth, and at 4 o'clock of the seven- 
teenth it appears this same gale struck the " Prometheus," 
she being at the time some three or four hundred miles 
further south. At 10 o'clock on the morning of the se\en- 
teenth the "Prometheus" passed the One Hundred and 
Fourteenth New York on another boat. 

On the eighteenth were close in shore, and Indian settle- 
ments could be seen on Florida Islands. The eighteenth, 
nineteenth, and twentieth still continued rough, but the 
twenty-first was a i^leasant day. Sunday serx'iccs aboard. 
Commenced with singing and then music b)- the band, tune 
" Boylston " ; second and one hundred and seventh Psalms 
read by Chaplain ; music by band and singing, " Old Hun- 
dred " ; prayer b}' Chaplain. In the morning ho\e in sight of 
Heme Island, and at noon Ship Island, and at 3 o'clock 
steamed into the harbor, the good ship being piloted in b_\- 
John Keecher, of Company I, who was familiar with these 
waters. Here Colonel Kingman and .Quartermaster Moody 
left the boat, and took passage by a mail steamer through 
lake Pontchartrain for New Orleans. 



192 The Fifteenth Xcw Hampshire W^limteers. 

Here it was learned that the destination was uj) the Missis- 
sip])i, and in two hours more the shi]) was aL;ain underway, 
and at noon (j! the twent\'-second was in its muckh' waters. 
At 7 o'eloek ho\-e in sight of land, and at 10 was fairh- in 
Pass I'C )utre, with her low and grassy hanks. There were 
wrecks at Pilottown, and a lighthouse. Some fishermen li\-e 
here ; the little houses are all on stilts. The comical appear- 
ance of the Louisiana pelicans caused much merriment. The 
depth of the stream is saitl to he two hundred feet, hut one 
is surprised at its narrowness unless he rejects that this is 
but one of manv outlets to the sea, some of which are 
mighty ri\ers in themselves. One of these great streams 
which compose the delta drains the Mississippi from a point 
hundreds of miles to the north from the Red river, just before 
its junction with the great father of waters. Men at Forts 
Jackson and St. Philip cheered and fired a salute. On the 
trip u]) the ri\er the band placed its li\eliest airs. Above 
the forts were seen the " X'erona," destro\ed b)- the rebel 
ram when h\arragut I'an the forts, and near hei the ram also 
lay a wreck. The stream is full of driftwood and floating 
logs abo\e the forts, and on reaching the delectable regions 
of the rice and sugar helds and orange gi-o\es, loaded with 
their ripe fruit, a delightful fragrance hlled the air. Women 
threw oranges at us and wa\ed their handkerehiets as the 
ship rushed by. 

Oame to anchor on the morning of the twenty-third, at New 
Orleans. Dories swarm around our boat laden with oi'anges 
and other fruits and delic-aeies for sale. In the afternoon 
steamed up to ("arrolllon, eight miles, bade the good shij) 
farewell and all were drawn up in line on the levee. Marched 
through the city on the shell road, the band i)iaying, and 
were recei\ed at camp with the wildest cheers h\' the .A, 1), 
and II bo\s, who ])reeeded on the " James S. (lieen." When 
the " Prometheus ■' arri\ed the "(ireen" contingent was at 



The I'oyaj^c of //ic ''Proiiut/iais." 193 

drill under Lieutenant-colonel Frost. He immediately gave 
the order to "break ranks," when all rushed to the river to 
meet their long lost brothers. Like her little sister, the 
"Prometheus" was also nineteen days on the \oyage. Ser- 
geant 7^-ickey, of Compan}' I, was sergeant of the guard on 
the day of the arrival. 

The following is a concise summary of events at Carrollton, 
from the arri\al of the devoted band of the " James S. Green," 
till the arrival of their comrades on the "Prometheus" and 
" Cambria " : 

December 20. A clear, warm day. Put things generally 
to rights, and explored the strange land. 

December 21. Sunday. Clear and warm. Moved camp 
across the road. The "Eastern Queen" arrived with seven 
companies of the Sixteenth New Hampshire Volunteers. 

December 22. Clear and warm. 

December 23. Clear and warm. Companies l\, G, I, and 
the rest of Company H arrive on the "Prometheus" ; great 
rejoicing. Captain Johnson officer of the day. 

December 24. Warm and cloudy, with slight rain. 
Inspected by Colonel Dudley, who was very severe on the 
officers on account of the ill condition of the guns ; no excuse 
would pass. 

December 25. A warm and \-ery beautiful day. Skirmish 
drill. 

December 26. Cloudy, but warm and pleasant. " Cam- 
bria " arrives with the rest of the regiment ; eleven guns fired 
on the river. Rumor Burnside defeated at P^redericksbura'. 



194 ^/^^' I^iftccnih Xcw liauipsliirc W^luiitccrs. 

Till-: \'()VA(;i': of thk "CA.Mr.RiA." 

December 3. Major Blair's detachment was ordered 
aboard the "Jersey Blue." 

December 5. Major Blair's detachment ordered to remain 
at Brooklyn Cit)' Armor)' till future orders. 

Thursday, the ele\enth of December, 1862, in Brookhn 
was a very pleasant day. The residue of the regiment, Com- 
panies B, K, C, and F, packed their knapsacks at the armory, 
and proceeded to the steamship " Cambria," which they 
boarded at 12 m., under command of Major Blair. The 
citizens of Brooklyn had become \er}' friendly, many following 
to the wharf, and there taking leave with hearty handshakes 
and wishes of good luck and (}()d speed. The boys were 
])resented with a sheep and a shoate in passing, bv the same 
Doctor Hurd, and there was long and deafening cheering for 
the grand old "hog man." These gifts were reared aloft on 
bayonets, and carried aboard in triumph, the most irrepressible 
antic of the globe, Cal. I'ennock, of Comjian)- 1^, familiarl)' 
known as " Pizarinktum," officiating in the height of his glory. 
The following card was pul)lished in the Brooklyn papers: 

A CARD. 

The Fifteenth New Hampshire Regiment ask leave to return, in tliis 
simple manner, their sincere tlianks to the mayor and many of the citizens 
of Brooklyn, for tlieir kind attention and liberality to our regiment wliile 
stopping in tlieir city. Postmaster Lincoln, the pastor and congregation 
of the Pierrepont Street Baptist Chinch. Mrs. A. .M. tlitchcock. 204 
Henry street ; Doctor Voorhees. iSt; Henry street : Doctor llurd. 7S Henry 
street (who goes the "whole hog"), and many others whose names we 
are unable to ascertain, more than made up foi- the negligence of those 
whose duty it was to i)rovide for us. 

We cannot now repa\' \'ou. but we can jironiise that P)rooklyn will ne\er 
be forgotten bv the boys of the New Hamjishire Fifteenth. 

National C.rey"s Arnidry. December 5. 1862. 



The J^iraj^c of tJic " Cambriay 195 

The "Cambria" was a new iron ship, a beautiful craft of 
Ent;lish build, and was captured in an attempt to run the 
blockade with a load of guns for the enemy. 

La}' at anchor in the harbor all of the twelfth, which was 
another \'ery beautiful day. 

The morning of the thirteenth was fogg}'. At sunrise the 
ship started on her unknown voyage for the sunny land of 
Dixie, on the same day, as has been shown, that the preced- 
ing steamers were coaling — the "James S. Green" at 
Tortugas and the " Prometheus " at Hilton Head. Like all 
craft passing out through the narrows, she was approached 
by a warship, and accosted as to her purpose and destination. 
The " Cambria " stood boldly out to sea. Passed Karnagat 
light at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 

Sunday, the fourteenth, at 4 p. m., off Cape Henr}'. This 
day and the fifteenth were both ver}' pleasant. At 8 o'clock 
on the morning of the fifteenth, off Cape Hatteras ; splendid 
rainbow in the morning and afternoon also. On the night of 
the fifteenth, at the same time that the " Green " encountered 
the hurricane off Mobile, the same tempest here lashed the 
ocean into terrific fury, and there was untold suffering aboard. 
Such was his anxiety for the safety of his command that 
Major Blair passed this whole night in the wheelhouse with 
the officers of the boat. It was on the seventeenth that the 
same gale struck the " Prometheus." The boat was often 
engulfed by mountainous seas that broke o\er her decks ; 
during the gale she was dri\en many miles from her course, 
but her engines worked on, and at 3 w m. of the sixteenth 
she passed Charleston, S. C. 

Wednesday, the seventeenth, was a ver}- fair day, but all 
this while out of sight of land and outside of the Gulf .Stream. 

Left the Gulf Stream on the Bahama side to a\<)id its 
adverse current, and with all sails set, steamed along under 
the trade winds, which here l)]ow in the direction of the 
ship's course. 



196 TIic Fifteenth Xcw Hampshire J'ohintccrs. 

At 2 o'clock, off St. .Augustine, on the eighteenth. Magnifi- 
cent swells were rolling on the ocean. 

The nineteenth was also very warm and i^leasant. On the 
great Bahama banks ; the ocean is shoal here, its snow-white 
floor having been raised by the coral insect, and on this shoal, 
extending for more than fi\e hundred miles, rest the three 
thousand little islands which constitute the Bahama archi- 
pelago. 

Sombrero light at 9 o'clock a. m. of the twentieth ; off Key 
West at I F. M. ( )n the margin turtles were seen that would 
weigh eight or nine hundred jxjunds each. 

On the twenty-first, coaled at Key West, then stood out 
into the gulf at dark with a northwest wind, under a full 
cloud of canvas, on a course one point north of west. At one 
time the island of Cuba could be seen in the far misty offing. 
While coaling, the shore was visited. It is a tropical island, 
abounding in gardens of lemon and cocoanut, ferns, corn and 
squash, and the wildest {profusion of fiowers, and myriads of 
butterflies flitting in the sun. 

The t\vent}-second was a rough day, and there was much 
suffering on account oi the terrible "maldemer." Under 
both sail and steam now, l)ut on the twenty-third there was 
scarce wind enough to till the sails, and the gulf was smooth 
as a lake. 

Note. ExU-act iVdiii (liar\ of .Aaioii Davis: •■After passing Jlat- 
teras ; cooks were making nuish. Hoys found fault, lioys complained 
to Major Blair, so Hlair said tn c()()l<, • dive me a ration just the same as 
you give tlie hovs: don't nial<e any distinction.' He ate, tlien said, 
' Cook, that is very good, l)ut 1 want \o\\ to hereafter give tiie hoys more 
musli and a good deal more molasses out." When oti" Ilatteras tremen- 
dous gale : lost ground, (lave sails to the hree/.e: tremendous creaking 
when the\- tilled : some one asked the cook what he was going to liave for 

breakfast. ■ .A watery grave. 1' Water was so rough couldn't 

cook an\thing in galle\." 



The ]^OYagc of tlic '' Cambria y 197 

The twenty-fourth was a very beautiful summer clay, with 
showers and sharp lightning- in the morning. At i o'clock 
p. :m. ran alongside a brig, the "General Berry," at Ship 
Island, and took on forty tons of coal ; then left for the 
Mississippi delta at dark. 

At 3.30 A. M. of the twenty-fifth laid to off the bar at 
Pass rOutre for a pilot till 7.30, when we crossed the bar 
and steamed up the river. Passed "St. Philip" and "Jack- 
son " at noon. Are greeted with songs b}' the colored 
people on the shores and the waving of bandannas. The 
boys also indulge in songs, and many youthful pranks. As 
the quiet summer night comes down, the good ship moves 
majestically on mid the hum of myriad nocturnal creatures, 
and while the crescent moon and certain particular bright 
stars burned in the western sky with wondrous brilliancy. 
Dropped anchor at the Crescent city at 9 in the e\-ening. 

On the twenty-sixth steamed to Carrollton, disembarked, 
and at 3 p. m. were received with tremendous cheering by the 
comrades of the " Green " and " Prometheus " ; joined the 
rest of the regiment at the camp on the shell road. 

And thus, after tempestuous voyaging and the terrible 
distress of the sea, relieved by that bright modicum of 
pleasure which heaven so grudgingly vouchsafes to mortal 
man, all were safely reunited in this teeming land of the 
cotton and the cane, and rice, the magnolia, and the prolific 
orange, whose spicy groves, bending with their golden fruit, 
are like our young dreams of paradise and Araby the blest. 

The "Cambria" was fifteen days on the voyage, which 
was without remarkable incident, except as has been already 
related. The food, for which few had little use, was 
fresh beef, salt beef and pork, Indian meal and rice, hard 
bread, beans, stewed peas, Indian and flour pudding, and 
molasses, etc., with tea and coffee. The water was mainly 
condensed from sea water in the boilers, although there was 



198 Thf Fifteenth Xew tlaiupshirc I'oliintccrs. 

water in casks on deck, but whicli soon became rop)-, and 
accjuired a bad taste and odor. The cooking- was largely 
done by steam from the boilers. 

Were it not for the "mal de mer," which I ha\e not 
attempted to describe, these \-oyages would ha\e been most 
delightful, but that terrible scourge prostrated all alike, both 
officers and men, except a fortunate few — 'tis no respecter of 
persons ; like the Jamaica rain, it fell on the place beneath. 
So during rough weather the suffering was intense ; but at 
times of calm all sought the uj^per decks, and were there 
deeply interested spectators of the boundless and ever-chang- 
ing panorama of earth and sea and sk\-, and the ceaseless 
wonders and unspeakable beauties of nature. 

There were rumors that the "Alabama" was cruising off 
the Mississippi delta, and some fear of capture was felt 
aboard the "Cambria." 

The boys still remember and laugh over the incident of the 
apples on the " Cambria." The steward had se\eral ban-els 
ab(jard, which he was taking along to New Orleans, probably 
as a i)ri\ate speculation. The boys became hungry for some, 
and proposed to bu}', but the steward named what was 
thought to be an e.\tra\agant price. Nothing more was said 
after this, but the head of a barrel dropped out occasionally, 
by accident, till all were empt}-. On this discovery the old 
steward was a great mourner, but the hat was passed in New 
Orleans, and a sum raised sufficient for his remuneration. 

In the card of thanks, as iniblished at the departure from 
Brookhn, theie is a reference to a neglect of dut\' ; but this 
neglect was pi-obably wholly due to inexperience. The hard- 
shii)s at the race course were extreme until the A tents and 
straw arri\ed. Hut all these things the go\-ernment pro\ided 
in great abundance ; the onl\- matter was to obtain them. 
Our quartermaster, like all others, had his trade to learn. 
He became a very efficient officer, and later won high pio- 
niotion ; woe then to an\- man or circumstance that stood in 



The W^'agc of the '■'■ Cambria y 199 

the way of his duty. He could whip out his sword, and cut 
the Gordian knot oi red tape without the sHghtest hesitation 
or remorse and in such haste that he would scarce stop to 
swear or drink till the deed was done. 

The regimental horses went by some boat now forgotten, 
probably, in company with many others, on a transport fitted 
up for their accommodaticjn. I had almost forgotten to say 
that our colonel's horse and rich trappings, as well as his 
elegant sword, were presented to him by his fellow citizens at 
the time of his going into camp at Concord ; as was also 
Major Blair's. The horses must have suffered from the 
terrible " mal cle mer " as much as the men. Major Blair's 
horse was a Morgan, named " Billie," and very intelligent, and 
so much akin to humanity that it was afflicted with fever and 
ague on its return, and shook in its stall like an old soldier. 

Note. Upon the embarkation of the regiment many sick were sent to 
hospitals in New Vorl< cit}-, and afterwards as convalescents to Bedloe's 
Island, where now stands the great statue of " Liberty Enlightening the 
World," which was presented to the United States by the French republic. 
Here Sergeant Nye, of Company H, who was one of those so left, pre- 
pared a list of about one hundred convalescents who belonged to the 
Banks expedition, and having procured the necessary authority, sailed 
with them to New Orleans on a transport loaded with horses for the Army 
of the U.ulf. 



200 TJic Fifteenth Xcic Havipshirc ]'oluutccrs. 

Army Life at Carroll ton. Cami- \\'illl\.>l-^. Camp 
IMaxsfilli). 

[Name of Camj) Williams, on shell road, changed to Camp Mans- 
field by general orders. Deceml)er 27, 1862.] 

The camp at Carrollton, to which the first continii^ent was 
assigned, was designated Camp W'ilhams, in honor of (ien. 
Thomas W'ilhams, who fell in battle at l^aton Rouge, in 
August of this }'ear ; in the thick of the fight his head was 
carried away b}' a cannon ball. 

At the inspection of the twent}'-fourth, b)- Colonel Uudle}', 
ball-cartridges were ordered, and forty rounds distributetl to 
each man. In the forenoon there was battalion drill, and in 
the afternoon skirmish drill ; the line taking spaces, advanc- 
ing and firing, and then falling to reload. 

The twent)--fifth was a ver}' fine da)' and a \er}- busy one. 
for, although a day of general scouring and j^olishing, there 
was no cessation of the regular duties and drill and another 
inspection. 

The twenty-sixth, the date of the " Caml)ria's " arrival, 
was another most beautiful da}', of which there was a long, 
unbroken series now, resenibling those matchless da}'s of our 
New I'^ngland autunin, and which are known tliere as the 
" Indian summer." Birds sing around us tlie same old tunes 
of home, and crows and black birds il}' about, and flowers 
are in bloom. Usual drill, and tlress ixu'ade at sunset. 

Thei'C was a slight shower in the forenoon of the twenty- 
seventh, but the da\' was otherwise another peerless one. 
And now the whole regiment is mobilized in this beautitul 
land and clime, and the indefatigable HIair a]-»]K'ars on the 
scene. ( )ur cnlonel, at di'ill and pai'ade, on his fine horse, is 
tall and stately, and solemn as a Washington. The men are 
proud of him, aiid would follow hini to tlie cannon's mouth. 
Lieutenant-colonel h'rost, an othcei- of the highest character. 



Anny Life at Carroll ton. 201 

of approved abilities, a brave man, a true patriot, is but little 
seen, and appears to be a man of inordinate diffidence and 
modesty. Major Blair is tall and slij^ht in form, precise in 
dress and bearing; his horse prances about like a centaur. 
He is red-haired, nerxous, fiery, tireless — nothing escapes 
him. The blundering and awkwardness along the line, to 
him, are seemingly inexcusable. He would drill the boys 
interminably, but they should do better ; but the colonel is 
ver}- lenient. None but those who have thus served can 
realize the extent of the militar)- art and the marx'cllous 
intricac}' of its mo\-ements, and the prodigious labor in acquir- 
ing the trade of a soldier. Independent and indixidual effort 
is utterly futile and amounts to nothing; the whole must act 
as a unit and drill till they anticipate the order and mo\-e as 
though by instinct. On this day quantities of lumber are 
received, and all the tents are raised from the ground and 
floored. 

Sunday, the twenty-eighth, was warm and still, and like 
one of those summer days in the old home, when the clock 
ticks so loudly and we hear music of birds and insects and 
the hum of unseen myriads. Inspection in the morning; 
dress parade at sundown. At i i o'clock, after inspection, 
the regiment marched quite a distance to a garden in rear of 
a mansion house, where it formed a hollow square, facing- 
inward, under a magnificent oak whose broad-spreading arms 
and pendant .mosses easily sheltered all, and there were 
addressed by the chaplain. Text, Isaiah 63:16: "Thou, 
O Lord, art our father." 

Monda}', the twenty-ninth, continued summer. Many 
barefooted and bareheaded children are gambolling around ; 
usual drill and dress })arade at the end of the day. 

Thirtieth very hea\}' shower in the forenoon ; usual drill 
and dress parade. 



202 The Fifteenth Xei^ Hampshire J 'oluiiteers. 

Thirl \-hrst, Wetlncsday. Reautiful cki}' ; the last of 1862. 
Drill ; inspection ; dress ])arade at sundown ; tattoo ; taps ; 
lights out. The dreadful year is done ; but the morning 
reveille ushers in another still more dark and bloody, in 
many respects the most terrible of all America's history. 

( )n Sunday, December t\vent)--first, as before stated, the 
camp was moved just across the shell road, and the new 
encampment was designated Camp Mansfield, in honor of a 
distinguished general in this dejDartment. This General 
Mansfield was a giant, six feet six inches in height and of 
large frame, weighing well nigh four hundred pounds. He 
wore a giant's sword, expressly made for him. He rode a 
horse wliich, with its rich trappings and his own person in 
full armor, weiged an e\-en ton of two thousand pounds. 
Here stood some empty hcnises which could be used for 
officers' quarters. 

On the twenty-fourth, two days before the " Cambria's " 
arrival with the last detachment of the regiment — Companies 
B, C, F, and K — that portion already on the ground, as has 
been noted, was inspected by a regular army officer, who was 
terribly se\-ere on tlie officers. The guns and accoutrements, 
just from seaboard, were rusty and dirty and ill-conditioned 
to the last degree ; and the men were no better than their 
belongings, and could hardl\- stand erect and stead)" on solid 
land. What with making camji and mo\ing same, and other 
im])erati\e demands of the situation, no moment of time had 
been given for putting them into that high state of i)erfec- 
tion re(|uired b)' such exacting serxice. The men were mostly- 
green boys from the woods of New 1 lampshire, and knew 
nothing of that immaculate, material condition, nor that abso- 
lute obedience and demeanor and vuitiring industry and 
vigilance rec|uired of soldiers in actual milit;u'\' life. More 
than half of these men liad just arri\ed the da)' before ; but 
tliere could be no excuse nor ixdliation. 



Annj' Life at Carrolltou. 203 

Personal Mextiox, Private Letters, and Ixcidexts. 

It seems fitting- here to give place to a few lines of 
jiersonal mention and incidents. As illustrating something 
of the amenities and fraternities of a st)ldier's life, it is 
pleasant to note the meeting of old neighbors and friends and 
brothers, who are serving in other organizations. While the 
" Prometheus" awaited orders at New (3rleans, Joseph Horn, 
a Rochester bo}', but then a member of the Twenty-sixth 
Massachusetts, came aboard, and finding Sergeant Trickey, 
of Company I, told him his brother, John P. Trickey, a ser- 
geant of Company G, Eighth Xew Hampshire Volunteers, 
was somewhere about ; and upon landing at Carrollton he 
proved to be almost the first man in sight. He pik)ted the 
way to Camp Alansheld. Sergeant Trickey in his diary says 
in relation to this: "We took supper together at the band 
tent with Charles Home}'."' It seems to have been here 
decided to visit the camp of the Eighth Xew Hampshire at 
Thibodeaux, some fifty miles away, on the other side of the 
ri\er. The party consisted of Sergeant Trickey and his 
brother, who may be considered the host, Captain Pinkham, 
and Lieutenants Kimball and Huse ; they secured passes for 
three days. They crossed the river by boat to Algiers, and 
thence proceeded by rail. This meeting of brothers and old 
acquaintances was a pleasant one, and very much was to be said 
about affairs and people at home, as well as matters of war, 
which was in those times the all-absorbing topic everywhere. 
The battle of Georgia Landing, or Labadieville, in which the 
lughth took part and received its first baptism of fire, had been 
lately fought, and was here discussed at length. Lieutenant 
Main, of John P. 's company, privately told Sergeant Trickey 
that John P., his brother, in the said battle exhibited great 
gallantr)', and was promoted on that account. In walking 
back to the cars from the camp of the t^ighth, dandelions 



.204 The Fiftcoith Xc7c Haiii/^s/iiir J 'oluntccrs. 

were seen in bloom, and frogs were croaking. It is the 
t\vent\'-si.\th of DecemlDer. The raih-oad was guarded 1d}" 
negro troops for its entire distance. On reacliing New 
Orleans, Sergeant Trickey had several hours to spare before 
his pass expired, which he employed in a visit to the Twenty- 
sixth Massachusetts at the custom house, and dined with 
Sergt. Joseph D. Horn, before mentioned ; the)' fared sum}> 
tuousl)'. Sergeant Horn ne\er returned, dying at New 
Orleans September 25, 1863. Sergeant Trickey returned to 
the Carrollton camp at 9 o'clock p. m. with Cai)tain Pinkham 
and Lieutenant Kimball, and finding two letters awaiting him 
from home, he violated the rules of the camp by burning a 
candle to read same after taps. 

The scenery at the mouth of the Mississippi is serious and 
gloomy in the extreme ; but as we ascend all changes to life 
and beauty. Nature is wonderfull}' iirolihc, and the land, 
though low and on one dead level, is varied by forests and 
cultivated field, and the sod pranked everywhere in Nature's 
la\ish hand. The forests are gloomx', and might}- trees are 
draped in long pendant mosses that hang listlessh' in the 
calm sunshine or gently swa}' in soft breezes. There are no 
waters, howc\er, but tlie all-engulfing Mississippi. No biook 
there e\en the size of the Hudson river would venture to 
show its head or recei\e a name. Tlie ri\er in its cliaract er- 
istics stands alone among rixcrs, and is peculiar in man}' 
respects, i'^or hundreds of miles of its lower course it is 
coniputecl to run uj) hill. The earth in carh' ages was 
api)arentl}' a lit|ui(l mass which gradualh' cooled on the 
surhice and formed a crust wliicli still encloses the central 
Tu'cs. Had the earth been still it had gia\itated to a 
perfecti}' giobulai' form ; but on account of its rapid rex'olu- 
tion on its axis, the centrifugal forces bulged it at the ec|uator 
to such an extent that the e(|ualorial diameter exceeds the 



Anny Life at Carrolltou. 205 

polar diameter by about twenty-six miles. Up this incre- 
ment, then, impelled by the same force, the river makes its 
way. At its best it is a slui^gish stream, and the L;ulf is 
always full to the ver)' brim, and threatenini;- with every 
south wind to inundate all the land. Could we increase the 
speed of the earth's revolution, the waters of the _^■ulf would 
recede, and thereby broad tracts would be reclaimed from tlie 
ocean ; and if we could stay the earth's rex'olution then 
the river would run the other way and drain waters from 
the gulf into the might)- and teeming basin above. All 
earth's oceans then would rush to the poles, engulfing every- 
thing in its course, and finally settle them to a depth of 
thirteen miles. The river has made the broad land through 
which it flows by robbing the upper continent, and is still 
busily engaged in the work, its waters being freighted with 
the dark soil which it is still jiouring down. On this light 
alkuial for many a hundred miles, like a serpent it lies writh- 
ing, and frequently in a single night it changes its mighty 
folds to right or left. Here it cuts across a bend and 
deserts a long stretch of old channel, leaving what were river 
towns, now far inland ; and those deserted bends, their heads 
filling by some mysterious law of nature, thus form a series 
of beautiful lakes whose waters settle to be as clear as crystal. 
Here plantations of cane or cotton or square miles of primeval 
forests are swallowed \\\), while at the same time broad new 
acres are added to the ()]:)posite shore. 

Brief AIentiox. 

Priv. Daniel Marston, Company K, detailed extra (hity, 
quartermaster's department, October 30, 1862. 

Priv. Levi Rlake, Company A, detailed clerk, commissary 
dei:)artmcnt, October 30, 1862. 

Priv. William Stearns, Company P2, detailed ordeii)' at 
general headquarters November 15, 1862. 

Sergt. Jeremiah H. W. Tebbetts, Company I, detailed for 
ordnance duty during voyage November 22, 1862. 



206 The Fifteenth Xei^ Hampshire J \^Iunteers. 

Lieut. W. 7\ Larkin, Company K ; Pri\s. William I. 
Blake, Com]:)an}' A, George W. Tilton, Compan}- IJ, and 
James Hem"}' W'ardwell, Company I, detailed for the sii^nal 
service November 22, 1862. 

Lieut. Alvah M. Kimball, Company I, detailed commissary 
of subsistence during voyage November 23, 1862. 

Sergt. L-a A. Hill, Company A, Lieut. W. M. Durgin, 
Company D, detailed on transport " New Brunswick " \o\em- 
ber 25, 1862. 

Sergt. George S. Whitney, Company B, detailed on trans- 
port " Ouincy " November 25, 1862. 

Privs. Eben Joy, Company D, Joseph W. Plunmier. Com- 
pany B, and Mark H. Winkley. Company G, detailed as 
hospital nurses December 4, 1862. 

Sergt. Arthur L. Merrick, Comixuiy K, designated color 
bearer December 4, 1862. 

Corps. Henr\' W. Howland, Com])an\' (\ John (iraham, 
Compan)' 1'^, William B. Chadwick, Compan_\' 1), Thomas 
Dunlap, Compan}' P\ Hiram Hook, Coni))an}- G, Charles 
McGregor, Company H, and Daniel C. Husse}', Comiwn}' I, 
designated color guard December 4, 1862. 

Sergt. James T. Gordon, Compan}' A, designated right 
general guide Deceniber 4, 1862. 

Sergt. JM-ederick A. Mitchell, Comixmy B. detailed left 
general guide December 4, 1862. 

B. A. Ricker, Company A, William X. Stevens, Company 
C, lulwin Hatchclder, Compan}' 1), John C. .Smith, Compan} 
P2, ]()\\\\ Caswell, Compan}' !■', Hcnr}' L. Robinson, Conipan}- 
G, Major A. Northrup, Company H, Otis V. (jowen, Coni- 
pany I, l)a\id C. P'rcnch, Compan}' K, detailed teanistcrs, to 
report to general headquarters December 2~ , 1862. 

Cyrus l^urbick, Company 1^, detailed for special duty at 
headquarters l^rigadier-General Sherman as head wagoner 
December 27, 1862. 



Army Life at Canvllton. 207 

January, 1863. 

(3ur camp at Carrollton — "Mansfield" — is a little white 
city on a broad, level green, fronting on the celebrated shell 
road or Carrollton avenue. It is a hi\'e of industry, where 
uni\'ersal order reigns and discipline, as with the proverbial 
bee. It is \'ery beautiful b}' day and especial!}- charming b}- 
night, when all its lights are trimmed and burning. Its 
aspect is one of peace, and the land and climate semi-tropical 
and delightful. Our camp is only one of man}- in the vicinity 
of New Orleans ; it is just on the margin of Carrollton. 
The principal street of Carrollton is Levee street. The river 
front is a busy scene ; mighty fleets are there passing to and 
fro, l}ing quietl}- at anchor in the stream or moored to the 
shore, and discharging troops, freights, and munitions of war 
in prodigious quantities. The ri\er when full rises Xo the 
\-ery top of the le\ee, which here is an immense and contin- 
uous bank of earth some twelve (^r fifteen feet above the 
land. It is a much frequented promenade on its broad top, 
and at its foot a small stream of leach water runs in a ditch. 
Looking toward the lake over a broad expanse, in the distance 
all terminate in swamps, where the cypress trees rear their 
lofty heads and everywhere draped in the funereal moss. 
Nearer, the land is studded with clumps of fan }:)alms, with 
their great, broad, spin}' hands. Among them fat, sleek 
cattle feed, which occasionally reach up and take a bite out 
of the succulent palm leaves. Between them and Carrollton 
are broad levels, where we drill. On excaxating here we 
shall find that water will rise nearly to the surface. It is 
exceedingly brackish, and by stagnation becomes dangerously 
filthy and malarious. The surgeons make dail}- rounds to 
see that the ground is nowhere broken. 

Passes were not difficult to obtain, and all who desired, by 
turns had days off to visit the city and other points of interest ; 



208 The Fifticntli Xcx^' Hauipsliirc I'oluntccrs. 

and all now ha\ini;' become inured to niilitar\' life, were cjuite 
contented and ha])}")}'. Sickness, however, broke in on the 
scene, and on the twelfth, death beL;"an his work and jnirsued 
it remorselessly to the end. 

The following order of calls and sanitary orders in relation 
to cleanliness was soon promulgated : 

Drummers' call at daybreak. 

Reveille, 15 minutes later. 

Police call immediatel}- after re\-eille. 

Surgeon's call, 7.30 a. m. 

Breakfast, 8 a. m. 

First call for parade and company inspection, 9.15 a. m. 

Regimental parade, 9.30 a. m. 

Drill call, 10 a. m. 

Recall from drill, 12 m. 

Dinner call, 12.30 i-. >r. 

Fatigue call, i v. m. 

First call for guard mount, 3 v. m. 

Second call for guard mount. 3.15 v. m. 

Recall from fatigue one half hour before retreat. 

Drunuriers' call, 15 minutes before retreat. 

Retreat ])arade, sundown. 

Drummers' call, .S.15 i'. m. 

Tattoo, 8.30 I'. M. 

Taps, 15 minutes alter tattoo. 

Sunda\- inspection, first call, 9 A. M. 

.Sunda\- ins^iection, second call, 9.15 a. m. 

Sunda}- church call, 1 i A. m. 

All other necessar}' calls will be sounded under brigade or 
regimental commanders. 

This order was issued by Hrig. (ien. T. W. Sherman, 
Wickham Ilotfman, A. A. (i. It shows what was the gen- 
eral routine of dut\- durini' the month. It does not show. 



A nil]' Life at Carrol I ton. 209 

howex'er, the menial clrudi;er\- of camp life^ — the cooking, 
the hewing of wood and drawing of water, the endless 
scouring of guns and buttons and brasses with emery paper 
and other polishes, and the blacking of boots, etc., which 
occupied nearly every spare moment of time. 

EXTRACT FROM .SANITARY ORDER. 

"Officers are directed to see (ist) that soldiers wash the 
whole person at least once a week ; (2d) keep their clothes as 
clean as possible, and air their blankets e\-ery day in fair 
w^eather ; (3d) that the grounds about the tents are not 
broken, and company streets and grounds are kept scrupu- 
lously clean and neat. (4th) Officers are forbidden to drink 
any but cistern or river water, and are ad\ised to drink as 
little as they can do with. (5th) All are advised to eat but 
one orange daily and at most not over two. (6th) All night 
air is to be avoided as much as possible, (/th) Abstain from 
eating except at meals. (8th) None will be allowed to w^ear 
his hair or beard long, and must wash the head thoroughly 
every day. (9th) Abstain from cider and whiskey, especially 
the latter. (loth) Not to be out of the tent after nightfall 
without the overcoat on." 

December 27, 1S62, Surg. B. X. Towle was appointed 
sanitary inspector of camp and grounds of T^ifteenth Regi- 
ment, to report in writing the condition at 4 o'clock p. m. 
each day at regimental headquarters. He will carefully 
inspect the tents, grounds, streets, kitchens, clothes, and 
persons of the several companies at 4 o'clock p. m. each day, 
and make a report in writing at these headquarters in the 
following form : 



2IO 



The Fiftcoith Xcic HanipsJtiir J \ilnntccrs. 



SANITARY IXSPECTOR-S REPORT. 

i;th Re-. X. H. \'ols., i86 



J 

£ 

c3 


Officers' 
tents. 


Grounds. 


Soldiers* 
tents. 


Grounds. 


Personal 
cleanliness. 


A 
B 
C 
D 

E 
F 
G 
H 
I 
K 













Remarks. 

Perfect cleanliness and neatness will be marked . . . i 

A slight defect in any respect will l)e markeil . . . li 

And so on up to 5, which will call for a puhlic reprimand and 
punisiiment. 

By command of 

Col. John \V. Ki\(i.\i.\N. 

Edward E. Pixkham. 

Aiijiiiant . 



AiDij' Life at Carrollton. 21 i 

Events for January, 1863, dv Day and Daii:. 

January i, Thursday. A bright and beautiful day ; in the 
morning- a white frost covers all the ground. This is the first 
frost of the season. The "Mississippi" arrives with the 
Thirty-eighth Massachusetts aboard. Captain Johnson and 
Lieutenant Durgin visited New Orleans — there it is a great 
holiday. Lieutenant Durgin returned to company. Twelve 
in regimental hospital. Roses in full bloom. 

January 2, Friday. A very pleasant day ; terrific shower 
in the night ; incessant flashing and a continuous roll of 
thunder. Splendid skirmish drill in the afternoon ; Captain 
Aldrich officer of the day ; Lieutenant \\'3'att ofiicer of the 
guard. 

January 3, Saturday. Warm and very pleasant. Splendid 
regimental drill to-day. Regiment has improved much, and 
the colonel at i)arade gave it some words of praise. Terrific 
shower in the night — rained all night ; incessant flashes 
made it light as day ; the ground shook with the thunder for 
an hour. Seven companies of the Forty-second Massachusetts 
left this morning for Galveston, Tex. Roses in bloom and 
honey clover ; the grass is very fresh and green. 

Note. Extract from Lieutenant Chadwick's diary: " Tlie location 
of tlie camp at Camp Mansfield was not pleasant, being low and near the 
swamp ; the ground very moist, and converted into mud of the most 
abominable kind as soon as the sod was broken or worn out : very 
slippery, and when dried by the wind, rough and hard : and from the 
river, earth, and swamps a poisonous malaria was constantly arising. 
The nights were cool, with heavy dews : days hot if clear, and much 
rain fell in frequent and heavy thunder showers, so that the camp ground 
and tents were often soaked, the water remaining on the surface for 
hours after the showers, and in low places and ditches always. These, 
and other causes, affected the health of the legiment unfavorably, many 
being attacked by fevers incident to the climate, and soon filling the 
hospital." 



2 I 2 The Fifteenth Xeic Hampshire J \)/u/iteers. 

Januai"\' 4, Suntla}'. Full moon. A very fine day ; com- 
pany inspection. Forty-secf)ncl Massachusetts returned upon 
learning that three of the companies were captured by the 
enemy at Galveston, the place having fallen into Confederate 
hands with great disaster to the Union arms. Sunday serv- 
ices ; text, Matt. 7:29 — "He taught them as one having 
authorit\', and not as the Scribes." Ik^autiful gro\-es of live 
oak in Carrollton. Rations very good except the fresh beef ; 
a jiost-mortem examination was held over some of this beef, 
but it could not be determined whether it died of old age or 
starvation. The common house fly is very troublesome, the 
tops of the tents are black with them where they collect at 
night ; the crickets sing the same familiar tune we knew at 
home ; and the frogs peep as though it were spring. 

January 5, Monday. \'ery warm day. Company drills 
omitted on account of heat. Lieutenant Durgin returned to 
dut}' with Compan}- 1). 

Januarv 6, Tuesday. Beautiful warm da)'. Mad dress 
parade, but no drill. Forenoon sixmt in polishing up in 
expectation of passing in review, with the rest of the brigade, 
before (^leneral l^anks. k^)rmed on the shell road at half- 
past one and -waited till 4 o'clock ; he did not apj^ear, 
howex'cr, and all marched to c|uarters and broke ranks. Thir- 
teen guns fired up ri\cr — the general ma}' be at the jiarapet 
abox'C. Rumored that eiglit thousand Confederates are 
within fi\-e miles; expect the long roll to be beat to-night. 
Lieutenant Tcrkins ofticcr of the guard. Corporal Hullock, 
of Comj)an\' !•', out all night witli others unloading a \esscl. 

Januar}' 7, W'ednesdaw Clear and cool. The Ik'lgian 
nniskets, which wei'c brought from Concord, are exchangctl 
for i'lntield rifles. l'"ort_\- rounds of anununition distributed. 

NoTK. KxUact fnmi (liar\- : •■ Isccc-ivc'd of T\lcr Lonya many acts 
of kiiuliiL'SS during; my sickness in the hospital. January 4. 1S63. 

1 IoKA( 1; L". I'.Mca-:." 



Army Life at CaiTollton. 



213 



Companies B and C detached for provost guard duty in 
Carrollton. The "Belgians" were old, and converted from 
flintlocks ; the Enfields were second hand, but good. At 
parade were jocularly enjoined by Colonel Kingman to think 
as much of our rifles as of the " girl we left behind us." 
The One Hundred and Fourteenth and One Hundred and 
Sixtieth New York regiments left for parts unknown. A. C. 
Haines, Company D, and others unload commissary stores 
from the steamer " Illinois." 

January 8, Thursday. Clear and warm ; very pleasant ; 
cool nights. Citizens making their gardens in Carrollton ; 
peas in bloom. Roses bloom all winter. Companies B and 
C left camp to do patrol duty in Carrollton. 

January 9, Friday. Very beautiful day, but somewhat 
cloudy. Lieutenant Durgin officer of the guard. Visited by 
Inkier Daniel Cilley, chaplain of the Eighth New Hampshire. 

January 10, Saturday. Slight rain from 3 a. m. till noon. 
Captain Aldrich officer of the day ; Lieutenant Chadwick 
officer of the guard. Steamer " Bio Bio" arrives from New 
York to New Orleans. The boys for pastime make rings 
and other trinkets from coal and lignum vit^e. 

January 11, Sunday. Beautiful day. Company inspection. 
Orange trees in bloom and putting out their leaves. Sermon ; 
text, Matt. 13:30 — "Let the tares and the wheat grow 
together." Eighth New Hampshire Regiment encamped at 
Baton Rouge. 

January 12, Monday. Very fine day. Charles G. Perkins, 
of Company B, died to-day of fever in the hospital ; this is 
the first death in the regiment since leaving Concord. The 
body of Lieut. Prescott Jones, of the Sixteenth New Hamp- 
shire, was carried by, to be sent home for burial. Lieutenant 
Perkins sick and excused from duty. Brown, of Company G, 
sergeant of the guard. Lieutenant Huse officer of the guard. 



(J 






214 The FiftccjitJi Nciv Hampshire Volunteers. 

Last night the guard was broken by the grand rounds ; they 
succeeded in disarming five of them. Lieutenant Parker, 
officer of the guard, placed under arrest for being thus over- 
reached ; great stir. Parker was confined to his company 
street for two days, when he was fully exonerated ; Kelley, 
of Company \\, was sergeant of the guard. General Weit- 
zel, with a force of infantry and artillery, aided by the 
gunboats under Lieutenant-commander Buchanan, crossed 
Berwick bay and attacked the rebel gunboat " Cotton " 
in the Bayou Teche ; disabling which, it was burned by the 
enemy. Weitzel lost six killed and twenty-seven wounded. 
A number were killed and wounded on our gunboats, among 
whom was Lieutenant-commander Buchanan. 

January 13, Tuesday. Warm and pleasant. The funeral 
of Charles G. Perkins took place to-day, at 4 o'clock in the 
afternoon ; the first military burial in the regiment. It cast 
a gloom over the whole camp. The entire regiment was 
formed with reversed arms while the procession passed. 

January 14, Wednesday. Warm and cloudy day ; rained 
in the morning. Companies K and \\ marched to Carrollton. 

NoTK. Extract from letter of Lieutenant Perkins in relation to the 
o;rancI rounds breaking through the line : " This is the hardest part of my 
duty, being lieutenant of the guard; we are obliged to be on twenty-four 
hours, and are not allowed to sleep, and have to keep on our feet most of 
the time. They are very strict with the guard, and if anything goes 
wrong, the blame is all on the lieutenant's shoulders. I have got along 
first rate so far, and so liave all except Lieutenant Parker, of Company E, 
who has had some trouble. Tiie officers of the post, who go round 
nights to look after the guard, found some of them rather slack, and suc- 
ceeded in getting some of their guns from them. That night Parker was 
on duty ; the grand rounds went to Colonel Kingman about it. and he 
came out in a great rage, and took Parker's sword away from him, and 
ordered him to liis tent to await a court martial. The affair was settled 
without a court, tiie colonel acknowledging that he liad been too hasty, 
and it appeared that Parker had done his duly faithfully.'" 



Aniiy Life at Carroll ton. 215 

Captains Hall and Stearns in command. Two men of Com- 
pany E, two men of Company H, and one of Company I 
detailed to government bakery. 

January 15, Thursday. Heavy rain and high wind ; mer- 
cury at 72". Paid (jff to January i in bright, new greenbacks, 
worth about forty cents on the dollar, which would make a 
soldier's pay in good money about five dollars i)er month or 
sixty dollars per annum, with clothing and blankets deducted 
from that. Lieutenant Larkin, who was detailed in signal 
corps, returned to Company K to duty. Captain Aldrich 
went to New Orleans, and carried $1,000 of the Lake Village 
boys' money to send home. 

January 16, Friday. Cold, westerly winds ; slight flurry of 
snow in New Orleans ; ice formed half an inch thick. Much 
of yesterday's pay was sent home by Adams' express ; Com- 
pany D sent $1,090, Company G sent $2,000. Lieutenant 
Alvah Kimball, Company I, left for home ; talk of making 
Sergeant Wallace, Company I, second lieutenant, to fill 
vacancy caused by Kimball's resignation. Colonel Kingman 
and Major Blair both sick ; Captain Aldrich in command of 
regiment, and officiated at dress parade. 

January 17, Saturday. Cold and windy ; ground froze, and 
ice formed half an inch thick. Captain Aldrich officer of the 
day. 

January 18, Sunday. Cold, east wind blowing a gale. 
Charles B. Ela, Company C, accidentally shot in thigh, and 
died soon after amputatk)n. Usual Sunday morning inspec- 
tions ; Company G inspected by Lieutenant Ayers. Captain 
Johnson sick ; for treatment he went to the private house of 
a Mrs. Jordan, who was a bitter secessionist, but very kind to 
him. Ela was the tallest man of Company C, and received 
his wound at the hand of the shortest man of the company, 
Leonard M. Eud)-. They were just relieved from guard, 
and in a playful mood VA^ took on the point of his bayonet a 



2l6 The Fifteenth Xeic Hampshire W^binteers. 

holl(nv soup bone that lay there, which ]{ud}- undertook to 
knock off in a jocular wa_\', when his ^un discharged its 
contents into Ela's thigh, completely shattering- the bones. 
Eudy was called the "bantam"; he afterwards became a 
physician, and died of small pox, November 29, 1876, at 
Bartlett, N. H., which disease he contracted in New Hamp- 
shire from a patient whom he was treating. He was a mere 
schoolboy at the time of this sad accident, and his sensiti\-e 
nature was so deeph' shocked that he nexer recovered from 
its effects. 

January 19, Monday. \tx\ hea\y rain and mud knee 
deep ; wind blows at night. All drill and parade omitted. 
Charles B. l'21a. Company C, died. The sick in the hospital 
are, many of them, delirious ; the disease is called camp 
fex'er, swamp fever, (jr climatic fexer. Learn by the papers 
of the loss of the " Monitor " off Cape Hatteras. The 
hospital at Carrollton was a mansion house, which had b^-en 
deserted by a Confederate ; it contained si.\ or eight large 
beds, with canopy tops and mosquito screens ; besides these 
there were thirt}' or forty cots. There were screens on the 
doors and windows, and e\er\'thing was clean and white as 
snow. It was soon, howe\er, found inadecjuate, and the 
overflow was, in some instances, \er}- poorly quartered. A 
man would be stricken sucldenh' with these fevers, and in an 
half hour his ews would turn \ellow, and x'omiting s])ells 
would ensue ; the skin would become hot so as to burn the 
hand like a hot gun barrel. In one hour the temj^erature 
Would increase to lOcS" under the tongue, and soon the 
skin would also turn \'ellow, and in main' instances, unless 
relief was afforded, the \ictim would die within a da\"s time. 
These diseases lurked unseen in the sununer air and the 
bright sunshine like a pestilence, and as we shall soon learn, 
carried \er)- man)- boNs to untimel\- graxes. 

Januar)' 20. Tuesda\-. Pleasant, but xery muddy. .Ml 
jiarade and drill omitted. Ca])tain Jolmson sick ; eL'xen 



Anuy Life at Carrol I ton. 217 

men went to hosjiital ; Cajitain Hall sick. Preparing;- for 
to-morrow's monthl}' inspection. Charles B. Kla, Company 
C, buried at 4 \\ m. Fiftieth Massachusetts Regiment 
arrived. 

January 21, Wednesday. Clear and warm; mud neai]\- 
dried up. General inspection by United States army officer 
— a Captain Allen, of the Thirtieth Massachusetts. Captain 
Aldrich field officer of the day. Corporal Edwards, Company 
K, went to hospital. 

January 22, Thursday. Ver}^ warm and pleasant indeed. 
Corporal Trickey, Company I, appointed fifth sergeant. 
Dress parade, but no drill to-day. M(n-ed camp across the 
shell road to new and firmer ground ; the old very muddy 
by constant tramping. Captain Gordon sick ; \l. C. W'illard 
watched with him last night. The mud in the company 
streets had become three to six inches deep. 

January 23, Friday. Very warm, bright day. After the 
9 o'clock parade and battalion drill, with the Forty-second 
Massachusetts, One Hundred and l^nth New York, and 
Sixteenth New Hampshire, marched several miles onthe shell 
road toward Lake Pontchartrain and back, under full arms 
and accoutrements and with knapsacks slung ; General Dow 
in command. Captain Sanborn and Lieutenant Seavey, of 
Company H, both sick ; Lieutenant Perkins in conmiand 
of Company H. While the regiment was on the march, 
William H. Hodgman, Company E, died at Camp Mansfield, 
and was buried without the usual military hon(;rs, probably 
because his disease was malignant ; he was delirious. Cap- 
tain Osgood sick ; Sergeant Brown sat up with him at night. 
While stopping for rest on the march, a carriage j^assed with 
several women in it smoking cigars. The}' created much 
merriment. It was thought that all women should be ladies ; 
and all ladies and true gentlemen, also, are merely angels that 
still dwell in carthl)' temjiles — such as ha\e not }ct taken 



2l8 The I'lftccnth Xc7c Hauipshirc \\)lniitccrs. 

their flight to ticlcls clysian and paradisos ; and it seemed the 
heigiit of incongruity that women or ladies or prospective 
angels should smc^ke or chew tobacco, drink, or indulge in 
other animal excesses. It were as ridiculous as though the 
spirits of the unseen world should go unwashed or unkempt 
of their hair, and dress in overalls and cowhide boots ; 
however, such incidents enliven the occasion. Saw cows 
yoked to carts by pieces of joist lashed to their horns. 

January 24, Saturday. Warm and very fine. Lieutenant 
Durgin officer of the guard ; Captain Aldrich field officer of 
the day. Usual Saturday scouring for Sunday inspection ; 
cleaning of guns and polishing of buttons and brasses. 

January 25, Sunday. Warm and pleasant. Usual Sunday 
inspection. Lieutenant Chadwick in command of Company 
D ; regiment under command of iVLijor Aldrich. Lieutenant 
Parker, Company E, officer of the day. Battalion drill and 
passed in review. Big mail received. I^'ire in Carrollton 
to-night — house and other buildings burned close to our 
camp ; the guard fired to gi\-e the alarm. P. M. boys 
excused • from duty. All the peddlers hanging round the 
camp sent to the guard house. Captain Johnson attacked 
by fe\-er and remoxed from cam]). 

January 26, Monday. Very warm and pleasant. At 
battalion drill and dress parade Captain Hall acted as colonel. 

January 27, Tuesday. Cold, hea\y rain ; cleared off just 
before night. All parade and drill omitted. Ortlers receix'ed 
to mo\e uj) ri\er to the parapet about two miles. 

January 2(S, Wednesday. Cold morning ; \er_\- pleasant. 
Struck tents at S a. m., and marched in mud four inches deej:), 
to the parapet, and encamped on same ground that had been 
occupied !))• the .Sixteenth New Mampshire ; \er\- hard day's 
work. I<"orty-second Massachusetts broke camp, and marched 
to New ( )rleans for j^-ovost dutv. Captain Johnson went to 
a Mrs. I-'oha's, a ni-i\ate house in Carrollton, tor treatment. 



A nil)' Life at Camp Parapet. 219 

The Sixteenth had just \acated the ground on wliich we 
encamped, and left cook houses standing, which were utiHzed 
by us ; our cooking had previously been done in the open air. 

January 29, Thursday. W-ry pleasant. In the morning 
the ground was white as snow with frost. Perkins, Com- 
pany H, lieutenant of brigade guard. 

January 30, Friday. Very warm and pleasant ; fine, C(jo1 
breeze. I^ieutenant Durgin in command of Company D. 
Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Chadwick both sick. 
Colonel Kingman rode to camp on horseback — is quite feeble. 
Large force of negroes working on fortifications near by. 
Lieutenant Cogswell, Company A, sick to-day. Pickets 
brought in some rebel •' skedadalers." Prepare for inspec- 
tion to-morrow. The river has risen up to the levee. The 
" Iber\'ille " came down ri\'er with seven hundred contrabands. 
Heavy fogs rise from the ri\'er at night. 

January 31, Saturday. Very fine day; clouded up and 
rained a little just at night. General inspection by Major 
Blair. Wesley P^ife, of Company D, died of fever in general 
hospital at Carrollton ; the first death in Company D. 
Captain Johnson, Company D, was sick the last twelve days 
of the month, and was conveyed to a private house in Carroll- 
ton on the twenty-fourth. Lieutenant Chadwick, Company 
D, was sick the first five and last two days of the month. 
Captain Aldrich officer of the day. Very busy at depot ; 
government teams loading with commissary stores. Steamer 
"Continental" arrives with more than one thousand men 
aboard, including the P^ifty-third Massachusetts ; they marched 
to our camp and pitched their tents. A. C. Plaines, Com- 
pany D, detailed to take care of a man sick with fever. 
Warren Comerford baking custard pies at regimental hospital. 



220 TJic Fifteenth Xei^' HanipsJiiir W^lunteers. 

Company A, mornini;- rej^ort January 31, 5/ privates for duty 



5/ 



D, 

" E, " " 57 

F, " - 49 

G, " " 49 
H, " " 60 

. I, - - 57 

K, '' " 58 

Companies B and C detached. 

Details axd Brief Mextiox for January. 

Priv. Augustus Merrill, Company A, detailed chief wagoner 
of the regiment January i, 1863. 

Priv. Everett B. Huse, Company C, detailed extra duty as 
clerk in division quartermaster's department January- i, 1863. 

Companies B and C detailed to do provost guard duty in 
the city of CarroUton January 7, 1863. 

Priv. William P. Oilman, Company C, detailed as nurse in 
hospital Jaiiuary 8, 1863. 

Boards of inquiry were apix)inted to inquire into and report 
upon the loss of garrison and camj) equipage in transit 
from Camp N. P. Banks to Camp Mansfield, for each com- 
pany, January 8, 1863. 

Sergt. J. H. W. Tebbetts, Company I, detailed on extra 
duty as mail carrier January 14, 1863. 

Pri\-. David G. Lee, Company A, detailed as messenger 
January 15, 1 863. 

Pri\-. Augustus Merrill, Comjxim- A. detailed as chief 
wagoner, is returned to his company January 17, 1863. 

Sergt. J. II. W. Tebbetts having been returned to his 
company, Charles C. Clark, Comj^any M, is detailed as mail 
carrier. 

Priv. Robert Richards, Com]xin\- !•".. detailed on extra dut\' 
as teamster |anuar\- 20, 1863. 



Annv Life at Camp Parapet. 221 

Priv. John Gowen, Company D, detailed on extra duty as 
teamster January 20, 1863. 

Priv. E. J. Morgan, Company I^, detailed as nurse in 
hospital January 23, 1863. 

Sergt. J. O. Wallingford assigned to duty as second lieu- 
tenant Company I, temporarily, January 24, 1863. 

Sergt. J. H. \V. Tebbetts assigned to duty as sergeant- 
major. 

Order issued directing " schools of instruction" for officers 
January 27, 1863. 

Sergt. Daniel Marston, Company K, detailed on extra 
duty in quartermaster's department, having been guilty of 
using disrespectful and insulting language to his superior 
officers, is returned to company and reduced to the ranks. 

January 31, 12 officers, 12 non-commissioned officers, and 
"jz privates were reported sick ; total, 96. 



222 The L'iftccnth Xcic Havipshirc ]\^lnntccrs. 

Events for Februarv, 1S63, liv Dav and Date. 

February i finds us located in our new camp, called " Camp 
Parapet." An army is pa\ilioned here. The camp takes its 
name from an earthwork, which joins with the levee at the ri\-er 
front, and thence zii;zai;s awa)' northward for two or three 
miles, and terminates in an impassable c}-press swamj) toward 
Lake Pontchartrain. A broad swarth has been cut through 
the giant cypresses, so as to gi\-e cannon range to the lake. 
These trees grow up out of the water to a great height, 
without branches, except a tuft of foliage at the top ; the)" 
stand there in eternal silence. The parapet faces up river, 
and is said to ha^•e been constructed b}' the enemy, under 
the charge of General Beauregard, for the protection of New 
Orleans from above, they apparently little deeming that it 
could be reached from below, with their might}^ defences at 
the forts down the ri\'er ; for there they had, besides the 
forts, a powerful fleet and a chain stretched from shore to 
shore. The parapet is a \er}- accurate and scientific affair 
and a work of great strength, as shown in the accompan\ing 
map. 

All its slopes were turfed and the ditch in front filled with 
water. It mounted at intervals man}- hea\"\- guns. Ascend- 
ing the inside •~\o\)^ to the four-foot level, here infantr)- could 
stand to man the works. In front of them rose a neaii}' 
perpendicular ])ortion, o\er which the}- were to fire, and 
which was lined for the full length of the parapet with hand- 
somely braided basket-work. This braided work was con- 
structed b}' inserting stakes in the ground at regular interxals 
of about sixteen inches, and interwea\ing withes ; the whole 
was clean and finished in the nicest manner. Contrabands 
swarm here, building new fortifications and repairing tlie old. 
Our camp is pitched back of the parapet about a tjuarter of a 
mile and a half mile from the river. Three other regiments, 
with which we are brigaded, under General Dow, are encamped 
with us, as b\' the following diagram : 



An/iv Life at Cavip Parapet. 223 



Parapet. 

I I I I I I I rrn r^T^rr" 

Guns. Guns. Guns and mortars. 



AAAA AAAA AAAA AAAA 

50th Mass. 26th Conn. 15th X. H. 1620! X. V. 

There are 36 guns on parapet. 

Here we settled into a daily routine of camp life, with 
seldom anything to break the monotony. Dail}' compan}', 
regimental, and brigade drills, Neal Dt)w, brigadier-general, 
commanding. How many and many times has oiu" regiment 
marched in line and column, formed hollow squares, formed 
from column into line of battle, and from line back to column ; 
by fours, by platoons, by companies ; and charged quick and 
double-quick ; fixed bayonets and unfi.xed bayonets, and fired 
with blank cartridges under that burning sun and cner a field 
left all in ridges by former cultivation to cotton or cane, 
until the whole could move as if by instinct like one vast 
machine. 

Note. Extract from a letter: " I have thought that the scene here at 
CarroHton, stancUng on the levee and looking down the river at the time 
when the river is full to the top of the levee, some fifteen feet above the 
surrounding countr\-, was the most charming of anything I ha\-e ever seen 
in nature. In December the orange trees are loaded with tlieir luscious 
fruit, and I never saw more beautiful weather, even in our own New 
England Indian summers ; but later came on a rainy season, when all was 
mud and gloom, and innumerable crawfish crawled over the ground. But 
there is alwavs fun in camp and some gay spirits that never flag nor die. 
The camp was always enclosed by a picket line, patrolled by guards walk- 
ing prescribed beats, beyond which no one could pass without an order 
signed by proper authority. Sitting around this line in fine weatiier, many 
of them brinoing their work, were ladies, young and old. with baskets of 



224 I /'^' I'iftiiitth \\\.' Ilaiiif^sltiir I'olnuUcrs. 

fViiil or ( ;il<cs tii sell, \.\\\(\ coiiVLTsatinii and trade unit on across tlic lini-. 
A malarial fever carried many Ijoys to tluii' L;ra\(s, and one conid almost 
anyliiiie hear the hand jjlayini; a t'lineral dirLic as the hody was home to 
its last restiuLC |)l.ice, preceded liy a s(|uad of comrades with reversed 
arms, who discharged their pieces at the grave. 'i"lic hoys were freely 
indulged with passes, and Carrollton and New Orleans fieijuently visited, 
and the shell roads from these ( ities t(. the lake were always crowded with 
jiede^lriaiis and mounted men, and e\ciyda\ had the a])pc'arancc f)f a nala 
da\. Once our whole ((iinpaii) was marclied to Carrollton to s|)en(l the 
(la\- in pleasme, and some of the l.oys ictm-ned at ni-ht in a most happy 
stale of mind. We mnelu'd home on llie top ,,f the lev.-e; there was 
miM li liilaril\. -Leap to the lear, leap!" says one, and in executing 
the m.Acment, rolled L;ia((hilly .h-wn the l.ank, and splashed into a ditch 
helow.- 

"('.wii' l'\i;\i'r r, ( ' \kk( u.i. i < i\, January 31. 
Piuir Jenny : 

I don't feel null h like wriliiiL; to-ni-ht, hut as there is a mail going next 
iM .nd.iv I thon-ht I u.Mild s( rat( h a lew lines in simsou to -o at that 
lime. W.- moved up to this place last Wednesday, and have just -ol 
comloital,l\ settled doun. I have had a very hard time lor a ueek p.ist. 
h.wiu- to take ( har-e of all the l.usiness of the company in addition to 
all the extra work ofmovin,-; and yesteid.iy. to top off with, w.is 
ol.li-eil lo l;o on -uard for twent\-six horns without any rest or sleep, hut 
I stood it lirsl late, .iiid my health was ne\er lietter than it is to-da\'. 
The captain and lieulen.mt have not done an\- dut\' for a week, hut are 
imijroving, and I think will soon he al.le to resume their places in the 
comi)any, and relieve me. Alioul -me half the officers are sick, hut none 

all have to -<, throu-h. and alter th.it thev s 1 hecoine lou-h and 

hearty. 1 like here mu. h heller Ih.ni where we were heloie: we .ire 
clo.se hy the livr. whid. is lined wilh he.mtilul plinl.ili.ms ,ind -.irdeiis. 
The houses are inosi of them filled up in splendid sl\le. ,ind the g.irdi'iis 
and i;i(>ves are all lh.it ue.ilth .ind l.isle c.in make them -it seems like 
geltim; into p.ir.ulise. This pkue t.d.es its n.ime from the loililications 
which were huilt here h\ the ichels foi' ihe prole(li(m of .\ew Orleans. 
It consists of .1 ( h.iin of e.iilhwoiks cMendin- from ihe river ahoul three 
miles lowaid llie l,d.<\ whidi (omes witiiin lour or live miles .it this 
pl.M I . h i". a hiMiililul woik, .mil must h,i\etdst .111 immense .imoiinl of 



//■///)' Life at C(iiii/> Parapet. 



labor. 'I'lu' work was pi.iniu'd li\ ( Iriu-ral 

as il ^'Mcnils toward thr \aVv |o the w Is 

l)lc lo an anii\. -l-lu' cinlianknuMit is 



was supposr.l 
imiiiL; down tlu' riwi, 
nip. which is iinpassa- 
hiil\ r.'cl wi(h> at thr 



l)ottoni. ten oi liltccii at tlu' lop, and al.oiit ri,-hl tcct lii-h. The upper 
si(h> has a sleep slope, with a diuli tlnil\ leet wide neailv Inll ot water. 
On the lower or inside thiav is a sa- or level place about li\vlt-et Ironi 
the top, where tile men can stand and liic over. ll is laiill in a /\\^-/\v^ 
form like a X'ii-inia leiice ; the angles of ditleieiil length lr,,ni oiu' lo 
Ihiee hinidred leet at the liver, which it coniniaiids lor a Ion- dislance as 
it ca-ooks hei-e towards the west. 'I'here are thirty heavy l;iius nionnted, 
some of which will tlnow .1 hall loin- miles. ■I'liere are also -mis the 
whole len-th at inUavals of halt a mile or so. three or lorn- in a place. 
Our camp is ri-ht und(a- the wall within .1 lew leet of the bank, .ui the 
very spot where (ieneral l.ovell was with his twenty Ih.nisaiid when the 
city was taken; ihey destroyed most of the -iins and burned t lu> c,niia-es 
when Ihev lell, and the ruins of these are Ivin- lieie now. .Some of the 
-uns are in -ood order and are still m, united. -nie darkies here sa\ the 
women worked like witches te.irin- up the pl.ill.anis an<l carr\in,L; shav- 
ings to bmu t he -mi carria-es after the men had lell. 'V\\v houses here 
are all desi-rled, and are oc(ni)ied as ..llicers' (|uarters. hospitals, etc. 
.Some of Ihe feiicrs and -ard.ais h.ive been destroyed, but most of them 
are kepi in pretty -ood presei\ation. 'I'lie hirniture was t.akcai possession 
of by the -oveiiimeiit and moved. Some of it -ot conlixaled, howe\cr, 
as some of the tents are luiiiished with a pictt\ comfortable article in the 
shape of stulfed maho-aiiN ro.kin- (hairs, and some of the windows of 
the cook house look as thou-h lhe\ h.id seen better da\s. 1 went into a. 
.secessionisfs hou.se down to (■arrollton the otlua- dav. which h.id l„Hai 
deserted by its owiua', who I beliew lives in New Orleans, aii.l occupied 
it as a sumnua ivsideiice. It is now oc(aipied as bri-.ide h,'ad(|uart(as. 
They left everythiu- in the house just as it was, and il remains tliiac now 
untouched, nice nialio-an\' hnnituie, piano, solas, beds, piclures, miirois, 
jiarlor ornaments, etc., etc. I lell \(in my hands it( lied to -el hold of 
.some of those thin-s: .and then to see a nice bed with bed<lin-all dean 
and mioccupicd, and we poor de\ils lyin- on the -rouiiil or in the nuid 
takiiifi care of it tor them while tlie\ are off li.i;lilin- us .it the North, I 
couldn't help wishiii- I had had the mana-emeni of thiii-s tor one week; 
if I had I L^uess somebodv would hear somethin- smash pretty sudden. 
The -o\ernment is .L^oin- to exUaid the work.s here and make an enclosed 
fort of sonvj one or two hundred acres; the work was commenced yestcr- 



226 The I'iftccutli .\ii.c IlavipsJiirc I'ohtufccrs. 

l^ut let us follow a cla\' through. At half past nine the 
lights went out at tajts. The C'arrollton cocks crow and clogs 
bark. Vwc are in a tent ; their guns stand uj) at the back, 
with the belt and cartridge bo.x and cap ])ouch suspended 
from the ba)'onets ; the knapsacks lie along for pillows. 
^^v() thicknesses of blankets are spread oxer the floor, on 
which we lie with blankets o\-er us — and thus we sleep. 
lUit now what is that lone drum beating so earl}- ^ It is the 
drummer's call — the morn is up. In fifteen minutes more 
all the drummers — one from each comi^any — meet near the 

day. Tliey will employ twenty-five hundred to thi'ee thousand contra- 
hand.'^. A large .steamboat load landed here to-day. I wish you could 
have seen them, but I won't try to de.scribe them as 1 can"t do them 
justice. Our boys are all well, but we have two in the company who are 
]M-eltv sick : one has a fever, the other has a swelling on his knee : he has 
done no dutv since we landed, and probably never will. Think he will 
get discharged: he is from Walpole. I believe I have never written 
anvthing about James Morrison: he is head cook in our company, and is 
worth his weight in gold: he works day and night like a beaver, and 
seems to take as much interest as though it was his own. The men all 
like him very much. Pond is the same Pond that he was at home, only 
a good deal more so, and the others are all true blue. We have plentv of 
apples here ; the fellows bring them here ever\- da\- : they sell them two 
to four for five cents as to size. We can't buy less than live cents* worth 
here of anything. I have just bought twenty cents" worth of russets : 
they looked as though they might ha\e grown on my own farm, and if we 
were sure of staying here 1 would have \-ou send me a liarrel b\- express: 
but there is no certainty about it — we may be ordered away in a week or 
■we may stay here till our time is out. I don't give myself anv anxiety 
about it, as I have learned to take things as they come along. I believe 
I wrote that our chaplain had gone home. Wc ha\ e Sunday, at'ter insi)ec- 
tion, instead of divine service, a battalion drill of about four hours: at 
any rate, we have had for two .Sundays, and expect to have one to-morrow. 
If I write the same thing over three oi- four times you must excuse it. as 1 
can't always remember wli;U I ha\e written. 

\'ours as ever and forever, 

W.\sinN(;TON." 



Arviy Life at Camp Parapet. 227 

colonel's quarters, and suddenly strike up a stirrini; and ani- 
mated drumming that would alarm the sleepini^- world ; it is the 
reveille. The flag now rises on its staff in the midst of the 
camp, and the sunrise gun is fired b}' the warship " Ports- 
mouth," which lies here at anchor in the middle of the stream ; 
it breaks wonderfully loud and inspiriting on the still air. All 
the camp now bursts to life in an instant. Orderlies are falling 
in their companies, each in its own street, dresses it, and the 
roll-call immediately proceeds. I^ver}' man must be in line and 
answer to his name, fully dressed and buttoned — no slouching 
is permitted. The orderly calls his roll from memory alpha- 
betically. It is but a few moments when police call is beaten. 
Blankets are taken up by their four corners and shaken in the 
open air ; tents are swept out, and everything tidied up. At 
7.30, at the surgeon's call, an)' who choose may present 
themselves, and under the orderl}- proceed to the surgeon for 
examination ; those who feign sickness to escape dutv or to 
secure a day off are there severely dealt with, but all the honest 
indisposed are kindly cared for by skillful hands. At 8 the 
orderly falls in the company for rations ; they march each 
company by a hole in the wall of its own cook house, just back 
of the company street, and receive their rations, each on his 
tin plate, and a pint tin cup of coffee or tea, which they 
return to quarteis to eat ; the plates are washed and kni\es 
and forics scoured by jabbing them in the ground. At 9.15 
each compan)- is formed and inspected in its own street, and 
thus stands in readiness for the 9.30 call for regimental parade. 
The long roll is now beaten ; the colors, borne b)- their nine 
picked men, are taken from the colonel's tent, and advance 
upon the field at a lively step. The band pla)s, the various 
companies emerge from the streets, and form line with the 
colors at centre on the broad level. Instantly the orderlies 
step a pace or two in front, reverse arms, butt up, and facing 
left, form a perfectly straight line ; the officers then dress the 
companies up to this new line — " right dress ! front ! " 



228 The Fifteenth Xeic tiauipshire I'oliinteers. 

This is the 9.30 rci;imcntal parade. The morning rej^orts 
are now made, and immechatel}' the regimental or battahon 
ch-ill is [M-oeeecled with, which lasts till 12 m. ; then the dinner, 
and at i the fatigue call, which means the tidying up of the 
streets and camp. Guard mount at 3 ; this is a most beauti- 
ful and imposing ceremou}-, such as can ne\er be witnessed 
except where large armies are encamped. Thousands of 
citizens from Xew Orleans and the surrounding countr}-, 
mostly women and children, tlock to see it. At sunset, retreat 
parade. The camp flag is lowered, and the " Portsmouth " 
discharges the sunset gun. Xow dress parade closes the 
day ; the line forms as at the morning j^arade, the band 
plan's, and the captains march their companies to the broad 
esplanade, where the}' take their positions in the line of battle. 
The ceremony is ver}- beautiful and imposing. 

This was a month of incessant drill and unremittmg, hard 
work. Major Blair is in conuiiand, the colonel being indis- 
posed, and is conspicuously actix'c and untiring. Every day 
the work goes on, except on occasions of intollerable rain and 
mud. It lets u]) a little Saturda}', howe\"er, to allow lor 
cleaning up and polishing for the Sunda}' inspection. And 
there is guard and fatigue aiul police dutw 

The dail}' sunuuar}- for h"ebruar\- : 

I-\'bruar\' i, Sundaw A \er\' pleasant daw Captain 
Aldrich officer of the da_\- ; Lieutenant Durgin in conunand 
of Company I). Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Chadwick 
both absent sick at Carrollton ; Lieutenant Moore ins])ected 
Company L in the afternoon', as the old guard were dis- 
charging their pieces toward the ii\er, the "Portsmouth" 
fired a heavy gun to signifx' that the\' must cease, as their 
bullets whistled round the ship, (iustaxus Loxering, Com- 
pan\' Vy died at Carrollton, and was buried ; his comjian}', 
with the band, attended his funeral. ( See i)age 20.) 
llenr\- W. l^enton, Compan\- H, accidentalh' wounded. (See 



An/n Life at Cavip Parapet. 229 

page 7.) A. C. Haines, Company D, returned to camp from 
hospital, and also Corporal Edwards, of Company K. At 
inspection everything reported in good order and condition. 
Corporal Paige, convalescent, of Compan}" E, took care of 
Gustavus Loxering yesterda}' in hospital, the last da}' of his 
life. 

Eebruary 2, Monday, h'oggy morning, followed b)' a \'er}- 
fine day. It rained some during the lirst part of the coming 
night, but cleared off cold and windy. Usual routine till 
4 p. M., when the whole brigade was re\'ie\ved b)- General 
Dow. The brigade as now organized consisted of the Sixth 
Michigan. One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York, 
Eifteenth New Hampshire, and the Twenty-sixth Connect- 
icut. George E. Colby, Company F, died to-day at Carroll- 
ton. (See page 18.) Twelve attended the surgeon's call. 
Brigade review at 4 p. m. by General Dow. Guard mount 
to-day at i o'clock ; old guard went on review. 

Eebruary 3, Tuesday. Eull moon ; cold and wind}' ; night 
extremely cold ; ice formed and the ground froze. The One 
Hundred and Sixty-second New York broke camp to-day and 
marched off, and the Sixth Michigan came in and took their 
place. Captain Aldrich went to New Orleans and bought a 
sto\-e for Company A. At compan}' drill practiced firing 
with blank cartridges. Twenty-first Maine arrived to-day. 
Captain Johnson paid Mrs. Eolia Si 2 for one week's board 
for self and Charlie White. Water within four or five feet 
of top of levee and still rising. The river varies fifty feet 
between high and low water. 

Eebruary 4, Wednesdav. Cold and high northeast wind ; 
cloudy ; began to rain at 3 p. m. ; heavy thunder storm in the 
evening ; cold, rainy night. Aldrich captain of the guard ; 
all of Company A on guard. Godfrey Johonnett joined 
Company E. Eiftieth Massachusetts left for up river. Birds 
fell dead from the trees on account of the cold ; nurse at 



230 The FiftcLtitli Xcic Hampshire I'o/iiuteers. 

hospital picked up a handful. Lieutenant Chadwick was 
oblii^^cd to leave camp on account of sickness, and was unable 
to return till March 11 ; he went to Mrs. Folia's to be cared 
for. 

I^'ebruary 5, Thursda}'. Cold and blustering ; mud very 
deep, on account of which there was no drill nor parade. 
Luther Stevens, Company K, sergeant of guard. 

February 6, F'riday. Cold ; the ground froze last night. 
Lieutenant Durgin officer of the day. Colonel Kingman 
came to camp for the first time in two weeks, haxing been ill 
nearly all the time since leaving New Hampshire. Lieutenant- 
colonel Frost was also in camp ; he has been unwell several 
weeks. F^u'st Lieutenant Ira A. Moody, quartermaster, 
appointed acting brigade quartermaster, to report to General 
Dow. Skirmish with rebel guerillas within six miles ; could 
hear the firing. ]'i\-e hundred contrabands arri\-e. 

I''ebruar}' 7, Satinday. A very j^leasant dav. Lieutenant 
Durgin, Company I), visited Captain Johnson antl Lieu- 
tenant Chadwick, who are still sick at Carrollton. The One 
Hundred and Twenty-eighth New Voik came to-da}- from 
New Orleans on steamer " Laurel Hill." Aldrich \isited 
the Carrollton hosj)ital and minutes in his diar}- that the 
" Carrollton hos])ital is conducted exceedingly well ; men 
could not ])ossil)])' be better taken care of away from home." 
Sergt. Luther Stevens bought fifteen boxes of blacking and 
fifteen brushes for Company K. Lieutenant Perkins visits a 
sugar plantation about two miles up the ri\er. Its rich 
owner is absent in the Confedeiate arni\-, but his famil\- still 
remain and are protected b)- our guard. The plantation is 
now let b\- the go\-ernment to a Mr. Curtis of Manchester, 
X. IF, who is making a great profit b\' the transaction. 
There is considerable cane to grintl }et, but the usual season 
for sugar-making is o\er. The cane is cut up and carted to 
the mill, where it is passed between two inuuense rollers that 



Aniij' Life at Camp Parapet. 



231 



express the juice in a stream, which is conducted to boilers 
holding' four or ti\e barrels each, in which it is boiled till it 
becomes thick. It is then carried to large shallow vats where 
it cools into sugar, and then put into hogsheads with perfor- 
ated heads, wdiich stand on tw(\ over a large \-at into which 
the molasses drips. This \at is twenty by thirty feet, and 
five feet deep. 

P'ebruar)- 8, Sunday. Warm and very pleasant ; usual com- 
pany inspection. Lieutenant Durgin in command of Company 
D. Five men of Company K sent to Major Blair "for not 
keeping themseh'es clean," under Sergeant Stevens. Masons 
held occult meeting outside the parapet. Sidney C. Hill, 
Company A, went to hospital. We are now permanently 
brigaded under General Dow, with the Sixth Michigan, One 
Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York, and the Twenty-sixth 
Connecticut, and are encamped as by the following diagram : 



^N O o D 5 




1 — Our camp at Carrollton. 

2 — Present camp. 

3 — 26th Connecticut. 
\ — 6th Michigan. 

5 — i2Sth New York. 



6 — Zouaves. 

7 — Xegro regiment. 

8 — New Orleans & Jackson R. R. 

9 — Carrollton. 

10 — New Orleans. 



Dots on parapet show wliere guns are mounted. 



232 The Fifteenth Xeiv Ilauipshirc W^lnnteers. 

Fclji'uan- 9, Moiuln)'. Warm and plcaj-ant. Lieutenant 
Durgin officer of the dav. Heavy foi^s ni[;hts. V. S. I-^lliott 
and G. W. Snell, of Comj)anv (i. appointed cooks. Grounds 
cleaned and tents raised. Leonard Weeks returned from 
desertion. Dress parade ; no drill. Sergeant Stexens. Com- 
pany K, acting lieutenant of the brigade guard ; Perkins, 
Company H, officer of the day. 

P\d)ruar\- 10, Tuesda}'. Warm and pleasant. luhvard P. 
Lane, Company D, died at general hospital, Carrollton. 
Captain Aldrich field officer of the da\- ; Lieutenant Woods, 
Company L, officer of the guard. 

P^bruary 11, Wednesday. Warm, with fine showers. 
Orderly Ames and Private Hicks, of Company H, reprimanded 
by Blair for surreptitiously obtaining a ])ass and going to New 
Orleans. lulward P. Lane ])uried with militar)- honors. 
Dress parade with white gloxes. Lieutenant Cogswell 
detailed on (ieneral Dow's staff as acting aide-de-camp. 
Alfred A. Hanscomb, Company E, and IMoses X. Holmes, 
Company H, detailed on e.xtra duty as clerks at General 
Dow's head(|uarters ; W. A. Hoyt as orderl}- at same. Cor- 
poral Bullock, Company 1^', out on picket twent_\-four hours 
with one lieutenant, one sergeant, tluee corporals, and thirt\' 
men. Steamer "Laurel IL'll"' ran aground in tlie fog on 
the le\-ee. The steamer "Morning Star" pulled her off. 
Several steamers loading with arm\' stores to go u]) ri\er. 
Boys suffer on account of fogs ; man\- ha\e inflamed e\es. 

r\'bruar\- 12, Thursdaw Warm, with showers; \ erv 
fogg)- morning. Lieutenant Durgin and John Lancaster 
went to Can-ollton and pui-chased thirt\' pounds of butter for 
Compaii)- 1). Dense fog. (jang of negroes weaving basket- 
work along the face of parapet. Lieutenant Perkins, Com- 
pany H, officer of the guard ; posted from north end of 
parai:)et to railroad into tlie woods and swamp ; thirt}-four 
men undei' him. 



Army Life at Cavip Parapet. 233 

February 13, Friday. Warm and pleasant. John H. 
Shiite, Compan)' H, died. Blackbeny \ines in bloom. Cap- 
tain Johnson, Compan}- D, \isited his compan}' ; he is con- 
valescent. A. C. Haines on duty for first time since January 
7, having been away sick in hospital most of the time. 
Great "scouring" for to-morrow's re\'iew. Man)' go down 
to the ri\'er and wash. 

February 14, Saturday. \'ery warm, partly cloudy ; foggy 
morning. Participated in grand review of the whole dixision, 
five regiments in all — Si.xth Michigan. One Hundred and 
Twenty-eighth New York, One Hundred and Sixt_\-fifth New 
York (Zouaves), Fifteenth Xew Hampshire, Twenty-sixth 
Connecticut — b}' General Sherman and General Dow and 
their staffs, in the forenoon. Splendid military pageant ; 
full marching order, knapsacks packed and slung ; marching 
and counter-marching, sometimes at double-quick, for three 
hours and a half. General Sherman was ver}' se\-ere on the 
officers. Charles S. Marston died to-dav of fexer, at the 
Carrollton regimental hospital. Captain Aldrich \isits a 

Note. An incident in regard to Sergt. Fernando Parker: "While 
at Camp Parapet, we were inspected and reviewed, February 14. by 
General Sherman and others. I had command of Company E that day. 
the captain being ab.sent. The company wa.s at open ranks, and a very 
rigid examination and inspection made of the arms and accoutrements, 
personal appearance, etc.. etc.. by tliese officers. When tliey had 
finished the general said to me. ' Who is tlie man tliird tile front rank?' 
I answered that his name was Parker. Said lie, 'What is he there for? 
wily is lie not a sergeant?' I told him there were no vacancies in that 
grade in the company. He said, ' Well, one should lie made." This 
ended the interview. That evening Colonel Blair sent for nie. and 
handed me a sergeant's warrant for my lirother. and a more delightetl man 
never was seen than when I gave it to him shortlv after, out on the 
parade ground, away from everybody : beseemed so pleased to think he 
had been noticed bv the reviewing officers, but alas .' he did not long 
enjoy the honor, as he was killed May 27, at Port Hudson." — Minutes of 
Lieut. James F. Parker. Companx' E. a brother of Fernando. 



234 '^l^L' Fifteenth Xcw Hampshire J 'oliDitccrs. 

su-ar plantation. LieutL'nant Perkins walked out in gardens 
in the afternoon ; examined bananas. " The}' grow twelve feet 
high, stem four tt) five inches in diameter ; the leaf has a 
long, slender stem, with branches that look like the tail of a 
kite as we used to make them. The main stock grows in 
layers like an onion, and is full of water. The w^inters are 
rather cold for them here ; if they are not protected from 
the frost the}" die down to the root and sprout up again 
ne.xt year." (These minutes written in the summer house 
in a beautiful garden deserted by its rebel owner.) lulwards, 
Company K, corporal of guard. At Sherman's review^ our 
regiment performed rather badl_\', and the general " blowed 
it \\\) " in the choicest " West Point." 

h'ebruary 13, Sunday. \'ery hc^t da)-, with terrific thunder 
showers at night. All of Company l)'s officers sick, and 
Orderly Sergeant Towle officiated at inspection of that com- 
pan)-. Charles S. Alarston, Company D, received a soldier's 
burial ; Company 13 marched to Carrollton to attend his 
obsequies. Charles !•'. Smith, Company D, died of pneumo- 
nia at the general hospital and was biu"ied with the usual 
military honors — a double funeral of Com])an)- 1). At 
Company \ inspection there were reported fift}-nine men 
present ; si.x detailed ; nine on guard ; thirteen sick in hos- 
pital ; two absent. 

February 16, Monday. \'er_\- warm and nnicld}-. All drill 
and parade omitted in consequence. Captain Johnson and 
Lieutenant Durgin, Compan)- 1), visited Xew Orleans b}' the 
steam cars from Carrollton. Jesse Woods, Compaiu' !■"., died 
in hosjMtal at Carrollton. .\nsel V. \'oung's father died. 
George W. Plummer, Company H, died. Three mortar boats 
were towed up river by a tug. Charles .Smith Imried today 
at 4 o'clock, r. .\i. 

h'ebruar)- 17, Tuesdaw Mot and cloud}'. Lieutenant 
Durgin officer of the guard. Rained hard from ^ w M.. till 



.i/7//;' Life at Camp Parapet. 235 

after midnight ; all the land completely flooded. Lieutenant 
Durgin was stationed at lower end of the parapet next the 
swamp, with thirty of the guard. In undertaking to leap a 
ditch he fell in, and was completely submerged, creating 
much merriment among his men. Fleet of gun and mortar 
boats and transports steamed up river to-night ; one of them, 
loaded with ca\alryand artillery, grounded, and had to unload 
to get off. Short battalion drill in the afternoon. Stevens, 
Company K, sergeant of guard ; posted on levee at Mississippi 
river. 

February 18, Wednesday. Very pleasant forenoon; hea\'y 
showers in the afternoon, with high winds. Usual battalion 
drill in the forenoon, but no other drills on account of mud. 
I"^ C. Willard, from picket, brings in a rebel prisoner. 
I^\meral of Ansel V . Young's father attended by Dickey, 
A. U. Smith, C. A. Smith, Clark, and Kidder. 

February 19, Hiursday. Very pleasant, but very muddy. 
Captain Johnson drills Comjjany D for first time since his 
sickness ; is still unwell. Captain Sanborn, Company H, 
returns to duty from Carrollton. Some going on guard 
waded knee deep. John Perkins taking care of Lieutenant 
Seavey, Company H, who is very sick in his own tent. At 
battalion drill regiment fired blanks. 

1^'ebruary 20, Friday. Very pleasant ; most beautiful 
morning. Attack expected and guard doubled. Colonel 

Note (17th). Extract from diary of E. C. Willard, Company (i : ■' This 
is a day to be remembered. I go on picket guard at 3 p. .m. About noon 
it commenced to rain, and increased till it poured in torrents ; the ground 
is flooded, and all the ditches and drains full: roads overfli)\ved. and 
the rain still continues in ton-ents. At 3 o'clock we start for our jjost, 
one and a half miles distant : we had gone but a short distance when one 
stepped into a hole, and went down into the mud and water. Upon 
arriving were thoroughly drenched : no shelter, but the dark night at 
length wore awav."' 



236 Tlu- Fifteenth Xci^' HaiupsJiiir ]'oIuutLcrs. 

Kini;man aiipcarcd, and took command at battalion drill for 
first time since his lon_L;- illness of about a month. He was 
recei\xd with six I'ousiiii; cheers and a tii;er as he rode to the 
front of the line. Drill \erv interestini;-. James A. Mulli- 
gan, Comi)an\' C, detailed on extra duty as wagoner. Fixe 
hundred rebel prisoneis went down ri\ei' to h'ort Jackson. 

Februar\- 21, Saturda}". X'ery warm, with strong;' south 
wind and frequent showers ; wind blew down the guns as 
they were stacked in line. Pa\-rolls made out. In the after- 
noon, the wind blowing over a stack of guns in the One 
Hundred and Sixt)'-fifth (Zouave) New York regiment away 
to our right, discharged a piece, fatally piercing the bod)' 
of one of their men and tlie hand of another. .Mdrich held 
officer of the da\-. Cloxei' in bloom. Perkins in command of 
C()mi)an>- H. 

Februar)- 22, Sunda\'. Cool and jjleasant. Captain Johnson 
inspects Compan\' D. Washington's birthda)- fittingly cele- 
brated ; flags float from e\er}- mast. The " Portsmouth " fires 
twent\'-one guns at noon; the band saluted. liarrison 
Messer, Compan\' B. detailed on extra dut\" at quartermaster's 
dej^artment. Hand placed se\eral national airs. Perkins. 
Compan_\- II, lieutenant of the guard. 

The following model soldier's letter throws much light on 
the present situation and surroundings: 

" Ku- ri i-.xrii I\i:(a.\n'.\r Xi-.w 1 1.\.mi'siiiki-, XOi.cntf.krs. 

CA.MI' P.XKAIM 1. 

Cakkoi.i.iox, La.. Fcliruar\ 2 i . 1S63. 
Dear Mix. /iatc/u-ldcr : 

Wf WL-rr nutitk'd to-ni^lit that a mail would yo North to-morrow, and 
as .Mr. llatclK-ldci- was on guai'd. hu wislicd me to write you. \Vc liavc 
m(ivi'<l our cam|) some two miles since we landed here, antl we are now 
encam|)e(l in a verv important position, as there is a chain of heavy 
fortilications extending five miles from the river to the lake, all mounted 
with lieav\ yuns tor the defense 1 it" New Orleans. We are encam])ed 



Annj Life at Camp Parapet. 237 

here with the One Hunch-eel and Twenty-eighth and One Hundretl and 
Sixtv-hfth New York, the Twenty-sixth Connecticut, and a part (if eacli 
o\ the Twenty-tiist Indiana, tlie Fourth Wisconsin, and Fourteenth 
Maine regiments. We are l:)rig'acled under tlie command of Ih'ig. Clmi. 
Xeal Dow of Maine. The One Hundred and Sixty-second, One 
Hundred ant! Tenth, and One Hundred and Tliirtieth New York are on 
the river l^elow us ; the Sixteenth New Hampshire and Forty-ninth 
Massachusetts, with se\-eral batteries of artillery, are about one mile 
from us on the river bank. There are in all about 15,000 men here and 
in New Orleans, and some 4,000 are up the river at IJaton Rouge, who 
will in all probability, and perhaps before this reaches you, make an 
attem])t to retluce the rebel stronghold at Fort Hudson. Manv gunboats 
have gone up the river within a few days, and heavy fighting mav be 
expected there. But you are as well posted as we are on that part of the 
operations, by the newspapers. I believe the Mississippi river is so(.)n to 
be opened, and if it is, it will be the greatest blow wliich can befall the 
rel^ellion — much more damaging than the fall of Richmond would be. 

The ground on which we are encamped here, close liy the river bank, 
is much lower than the water in the river, and from which it is protected 
by a liank of eailh called a levee. This is true of the whole state of 
Louisiana, except some small tracts of country. The levees extend from 
the (\\\\{ of Mexico several hundred miles above this place, and we are 
I 10 miles from the gulf. We are six miles from New Orleans, 136 from 
Baton Rouge, 164 from Port Hudson, and 390 miles from Vicksburg by 
the course of the river. The water which falls upon the earth here runs 
off to the eastward to Lake Pontchartrain. The country is verv low and 
level, without a hill or stone to be seen, and undoulitedh' the whole land 
is a deposit from the river. When we came here two months ago, the 
orange trees were loaded with fruit: the cane was being harvested, but 
the leaves were falling from the trees. Winter was just setting in, and 
now in a few short weeks the winter is passed. The trees are again 
putting forth their leaves, the grass is growing green, the honeysuckle i.s 
in blossom, and the bees are buzzing about. We have had no weather 
which would be called cold in New England. Two nights water froze a 
little. We have some very heavy showers : it rains here often from four 
to six hours, so fast that the streams all seem as one, and the claps of 
thunder are so near each other that the ear cannot separate them. The 
weather is now as warm as in New Hampshire in June. 

It has been quite sickly, and we have several men now in the hospital, 
but onlv one from Deerfield — Albion Bean; he is not vet out, but 



238 The Fifteenth Xeic Hampshire J^^Iiniteers. 

I^'cbruary 23, Moiuki}'. \'cr\- ])lcasant and cool. Mo\cd 
camp, except Lieutenant Sea\e}'s tent, fort}' rods to tlie 
soutlieast across the road and nearer to tlie ri\-er. \o drill. 
Isaac Foss, Company A, appointed express messenger to ride 
from this post to the city (New Orleans). Perkins, Company 
H, lieutenant (^f guard. John Hodgman, Company E, 
detailed on extra duty as clerk in commissary department. 
Stevens, Company K, sergeant of guard. The One Hundred 
and Sixty-fifth New York (Zouaxe) Regiment, which is 
encamped two miles to our right, near the swamp, had made 
extensive preparations for celebrating Washington's birthday, 
but owing to the accidental shooting of one of their men, it 
was postponed till this e\ening, when r.ianN' attended. Their 
grounds had been laid out in raised tiower beds, with turfed 
edges, in various patterns of shields, and stars and forts 
and monitors and flags, and were all abloom with x'crdure 

tliinks he is ,<iettin^ better. We have lost tour liy death ciut of t>ur Cdin- 
pan\-. Wesley Fife, of Deerfield, was the tinst to y^o : since which time 
Edward I'. Lane of Candia. Charles S. Marstim of Chichester, and 
Charles F. Smith of Deerfield, have died. .Mr. liatchelder was sick a 
fortnight or so. He did not .i;-o to the hospital: however, he is now well. 
and has been on duty several davs. He wished me to tell you that he 
had enough to eat and that which is good, and that he sleeps warm 
nights. Our rations consist of beet", pork, potatoes, meal, flour, rice, 
peas, and beans, all of the l)est cjualitv. * * * w^. hake beans 
Uvice a week, as well as they can be done at home : hasty and minute 
puddings, with warm bread e\er\' da\', and coflee for breakfast and 
dinner and tea for supper, with plenty of sugar and molasses. There are 
thousands of negroes here, who have run away from their masters and 
who are now at work on the fortilicati(ms. cutting wood antl driving 
teams, and other similar work. The}- are much more intelligent ar.d 
capable than 1 e\ei- supposed them to be. There is a battery here of 
negro soldiers who are well ilrilled and disciplined, anil handle their hea\_\ 
guns like veterans. * * * 

N'ours ti'uly. 

[. I'>1<.\I). I'ini.I'.KICK. 

.Mrs. i;. 11. liatchelder." 



Aj-viv Life at Cavip l^arapct. 239 

and foliage plants and the brilliant flowers of the 
tropics, and numerous arches spanned their streets, dis- 
playing patriotic mottoes. A platform was erected and 
the whole lighted with five hundred dollars' worth of 
Chinese lanterns and p}'rotecnics from New York. It made 
a most beautiful appearance. There was a large delegation 
from New Orleans. There was music and dancing and 
speaking, interspersed with songs, and an exhibition b}- the 
regiment on the field of the bayonet exercise, and a skirmish 
drill, in which they are very proficient. It was a magnificent 
spectacle, with the Vv'orld for a stage and an arm}- to behold 
the scene, and such as can never be gi\-en except in time of 
war. 

February 24, Tuesday. Very pleasant. The da}- was 
spent fixing up the new camp and grounds ; all drill omitted. 
Captain Johnson officer of the da}-. Captain Sanborn 
returned to ct)mi)any. Lieutenant Seavey sent to pri\ate 
house in Carrollton in care of J. Perkins, Company H ; 
Perkins remained twenty-four hours, when a nurse was sent 
to take his place. Late in Februar}- tents were elevated two 
feet and floored. 

P'ebruary 25, Wednesday. Very pleasant, with warm south 
wind ; dust flew badly. Lieutenant Durgin in command of 
Company D at battalion drill. Charles PI Clay, Company A, 
died in hospital, of diphtheria. Company K built an oven. 

February 26, Thursday. \"ery warm, with high south 
wind ; the dust flies ; heavy shower in e\-ening. Captain 

Note. E.xtract from letter of Lieutenant Perkins : " I received your 
letter \-e.sterday, just as I was going on guard, where I lia\-e been at the 
north end of the parapet until 4 o'clock to-day. We have a ])retty hard 
time up there : have no shelter and nothing to sit or lie on except the 
bare ground. We kept a roaring fire, however, and there are some l)ad 
gaps in the fences in the vicinity, in consequence. I will now stow myself 
awav on mv barrel-stave bunk for a night's rest." 



240 



The Fiftcoith Xcw Hampshire Wiliintccrs. 



Aldricli attended the tlieatre in \e\v Orleans. Brigade drill, 
after parade, uneler (ieneral Dow and Colonel Clark, of the 
Sixth Michigan ; the first brigade drill. 

l-\'bru.ar\- 2', Fricla}'. \'er)- waim ; cloudy and showery. 
Dress i:)arade, but no drill. William A. Ho}t, detailed as 
orderl}- to (ieneral Dow, returned to (Company D. Private 
Richards, Compan}' E, volunteered to Fourth Massachusetts 
Battery for the rest of his term. Six men detailed for dut_\' 
in F'ourth Massachusetts Battery, to report to same at 
Shipper's Press. Xew ( )rleans, viz.: Jeremiah (iodfrey. Com- 
pany 1 ; William Ha}\vood, Company I ; fl. C. Richards, 
Company \\ ; Ira Morrison. Company F ; John Morrison, 
Company V ; Otis W. Oilman, Company A. 

February 28. Saturda\ . \'er\- warm and showery ; cleared 
at night ; cool wind in the evening. \o drill or ])arade. 
Mustered for yi^^x in forenoon. Lieutenant Chadwick absent. 



CompauN 


A. 


m< 


)rnin 


g report 1^'ebruary 


2^ 


60 


priN 


ates tor duty. 






D, 










5 I 






" 




F. 
F. 
Ci, 










3 5 
49 






" 




H. 










53 






'' 




I, 










50 






" 




K, 










3 5 






Com 


)anies 1 


and 


C detached. 











The sick for j-'ebruar)- average about twehe to the company 



Aniiy Life at Camp Parapet. 
The Sick for February. 



?4i 



Date. 


Officers. 


Non-commis- 
sioned officers. 


Privates. 


Totals. 


February i 


12 


12 


77 


lOI 


2 


12 


12 


79 


103 


3 


13 


10 


77 


100 


4 


10 


14 


94 


118 


5 


II 


14 


88 


113 


6 


. 1 1 


^5 


86 




7 


10 


14 


100 


124 


8 


II 


15 


lOI 


1 27 


9 


II 


1 1 


104 


126 


lO 


10 


9 


113 


132 


II 


9 


12 


1 10 


131 


12 


9 


17 


118 


144 


'3 


10 


14 


120 


144 


14 


10 


10 


119 


139 


'5 


9 


10 


102 


121 


i6 


II 


15 


97 


123 


17 


II 


14 


lOI 


126 


i8 


10 


12 


95 


117 


>9 


10 


iS 


97 


125 


20 


10 


18 


102 


130 


21 


10 


15 


100 


125 


22 


10 


13 


90 


1 13 


23 


9 


9 


95 


1 13 


24 




12 


84 


103 


2 5 




12 


83 


112 


26 


II 


12 


79 


102 


27 


•I 


12 


80 


103 


28 




14 


81 


106 



242 The Fifteenth Xez^' Ilavipshire I'oiiniteeis. 

Daily Mixl-tks for the Moxrii of March. 

March i, Sunday. March comes in with Captain Johnson 
again on duty after a long- ihness. Day very pleasant. 
Usual Sunda\' morninL;' inspection. After inspection Lieu- 
tenant Durgin and some others attended a negro meeting 
and in the evening ; text, Luke i8 : 18. These negro meet- 
ings were very interesting, not on))' on account of their 
quaint oratory, but also for the songs they sang. They are 
natural and spontaneous singers ; they sing from the dej^ths 
of their emotional hearts as no other people sing, and with a 
rich melody that is all their own. Music gushes from them 
like fountains from the smitten rock. Many of our numbers 
also are very devout, and meetings for prayer and praise are 
frequent and regular, llie camp, laid out with mathematical 
precision, makes a very beautiful appearance when lit up in 
the evening ; the lights shine through the white tents, and 
from them we often hear many voices joining in " Land 
Ahead its 1^'ruits Are Waving" and other similar songs. 
With the negroes the singing is congregational ; all join in, 
and on such evenings as this, one could hear a whole negro 
regiment in grand conceit for a mile away. Two men 
detached to go into batter)-. Air \ery still and t|uiet. 
Perkins, Com]ian)- 11, lieutenant of special guard — interior 
guard. One hundred and sixt}' thousand cartridges left on 
the wharf to-cla}' for us. Compan\- stieets built and rounded 
up. 

First Lieutenant Muse, of Compau)- G, having been dis- 
charged for disability, Second Lieut. Joseph G. Ayers is 
appointed acting first lieutenant, and assumes that rank and 
title. 

l'"irst Sergt. C. C. Pit'kering appointed acting second 
lieutenant of Com])any G. 



Aruiv Lift-' nt Camp Parapet. 243 

The non-commissioned officers of Company G are promoted 
in succession, and Priv. William A. Foye appointed eighth 
corporal. 

First Lieutenant Cogswell, at his own request, is relieved 
from duty as acting aide-de-camp on General Dow's staff, and 
returned to duty in Compan)^ A. 

March 2, Monday. Very beautiful. Lieutenant Durgin 
detailed regimental commissary by order of Col. John \V. 
Kingman. It may well be thought that the men are now 
becoming very proficient and expert in all the prescribed 
military evolutions and the manual of arms ; each has become 
a mere piece of mechanism in a mighty machine. All move- 
ments are made with wonderful precision and celerity, and the 
men become so inured to their guns at shoulder that they 
cannot tell whether they are there or not by the mere sense 
of feeling. One could hunt for his gun when it was in his 
hand, like our grandmothers searching for their glasses when 
they are already on their noses. John Perkins sat up with 
Lieutenant Seavey, Company H. Corporal Bullock, Company 
F, joins color guard. Bo}'s anxious to mo\e. 

Note. Extract from a soldier" .s letter : ■' It is the spring season here 
now. Plums and peaches are in full bloom ; trees are putting out their 
fresh leaves and shoots. The air is filled with a delightful fragrance, and 
the weather is the same as our June. The night dews are very heavy. 
Last night I lay down under the lee of a gum tree a little while, and when 
I got up I could wring water out of my blanket where I was on guard. 
This guard business is the worst part of the service ; it uses up the men 
more than anything else. The guard in our regiment are furnished a 
whiskev ration; I ha\'e two quarts to deal out."' 

Note. Another extract: " I was out on battalion drill this forenoon 
two hours. Our regiment has got so it can drill pretty well. .Major 
Blair has command most of the time, and he puts us through, I can tell 
you. The boys all like the colonel first rate, and would follow him any- 
where he would lead them, if it was right into Vicksburg; some feel hard 
toward the major, because he is so strict with them, but 1 like him and 
think he does just right. "" 



244 ^'^^^' I'iftt'i'nth Xcx^' Ilainpshirc J \Tli(ntccrs. 

There is an interior line of sentinels around each regiment, 
and another along the parapet and around a wide area inclosing 
the whole brigade, and guards at headquarters and in numer- 
ous places, beside picket posts two or three miles out in all 
directions. These outposts are the eyes of the arm)-, and 
fall back, giving the alarm on the approach of the enem)- in 
season for the camp to arouse and get cjn line. 

March 3, Tuesday. Beautiful day. l^all playing after 
supper. Isaac Hoyt, Company P", corporal of guard. 

March 4, Wednesday. Very pleasant indeed ; beautiful 
moonlight nights. Plum trees in bloom. 

March 5, Thursday. Very pleasant ; slight frost in the 
morning ; full moon. Brigade drill and review by General 
Dow; five regiments out. Orders read to proxide oursel\-es 
with one hundred rounds ammunition, and be read)' to mo\e 
at a moment's notice. Sergeant Hill, Company A, returned 
from hospital. Drill very good. Aldrich highly entertained 
and amused by attending negro meeting ; something- 
unearthly and fascinating about their manner of worship, and 
peculiar language, and contortions, singing and songs. 
There are wondrous well-meaning, good old souls in some 
of their black bodies. The brigade to-day on review made a 
very fine appearance. 

March 6, Frida)'. W'arni ; rained \-er\- heaxih-, but cleared 
at night ; splemlid moon. Parade and drill on-iitted. Lieu- 
tenant Durgin assumes his duties as coniniissar)- of the 
regiment, l/nder niarching orders. Sixteenth and Pighth 
New PIanij)shire went up ri\er. Cunboats ami transjiorts 
loaded with troops constant!)- jxissing up. Aldrich officer of 
the day. l'"our n-ien and a corporal detailed from Conipan)- K 
to guard [larolled j)risoners on shell road. 

NoTi-:. Mxtracl tVoni diary 
more luiman. Whatever l1s( 
understands the ch-ill." 



I?oys .say tlie major 


is .uettiiii; a 


little 


■\- ma\- sa_\', lie is a 


good soldiei 


-. and 



Army Life at Camp Parapet. 245 

March 7, Saturday. Very beautiful, but muddy. No 
parade or drill. The mud is clayey, and sticks like tar ; it 
has to be scraped off our boots with a sort of wooden knife 
before entering our tents. The crawfish, precisel}- like little 
lobsters, crawl over the wet ground in countless numbers ; 
millions of their little holes perforate the earth everywhere. 
Two men of the Sixth Michigan got to throwing mud at 
each other. Never saw such looking fellows in my life. 
Carew, Company K, promoted sergeant, and Hanson to cor- 
poral. Gunboats and transports loaded with troops go up 
river all day and all night. The mud throwing affair was 
the great amusement of the day ; the two boys had drawn 
new suits, and returning to quarters one of them playfully 
put a dab of mud on the other's coat. It was retaliated, 
and soon both were plastering each other with double 
handfuls till it would be impossible to tell whether they 
were men or beasts. It was piled on a foot thick. The 

Note. Extract from diary of Sergt. H. R. Brown, Company (". : 
" Had brigade drill, but not feeling well was excused. Camp life is dull 
enough, but still we manage to have some fun now and then with the 
darkies, garbage gatherers, peddlers, and beggars, of which there are 
any quantity, of all ages, sizes and sexes. During grub hours we hear 
the never-ceasing cry, ' Got any old bread what _\ou don't want any 
more?' ' Want any lettuce?' 'Era,' ' True Delta,' 'Picayune." 'Arrival 
of mail steamer; latest news from Vicksburg,' etc., etc. All this is 
screamed into our ears day after day. I find from observation that news with 
these fellows is about as follows : the arrival of a mail steamer does for a 
week ; a skirmish on Lake Fontchartrain is magnified into the ' capture of 
Vicksburg.' One day an old white-headed darkey, with a broom on his 
shoulder, stuck his head into the cook house, but before he could say 
anything, the cook, who happened to be a jolly fellow, caught up the l)ig 
butcher knife and nished at him with all imaginary fur\-, when tiie darke\- 
skedaddled double-quick and frightened till he turned pale ; ' Oh ! oh \ ' 
he said, ' I aint doing nuffin ; only wanted to sell a broom.' And visits 
to gardens and plantations, and negro meetings, and weddings, were a 
never failing source of amusement." 



246 TIic Fiftcctith Xcw Hampshire I \)lHntLcrs. 

affair lasted tor ui^wards of half an hour, and hundreds 
gathered round to witness the sport. The new suits were 
completely ruined. Thomas Dunlap, Company F, died at 
Carrollton. 

March 8, Sunday. Very })leasant. Inspection. Company 
D inspected by Sergeant Towle. Thomas Dunlap buried. 
All troops between us and New Orleans now gone. Lieu- 
tenant Parker, Company H, walked up to sugar plantation, 
and went to negro meeting in the afternoon. New surgeon 
— Horsch — arrives to-day ; German, educated, fine looking. 
Ironclad " Essex" and several other steamers went up river. 
Corporal Edwards carried breakfast to guard. Went d(nvn 
to the river and saw the gunboat " Essex " going up. 

March 9, Monday. Very warm, with appearances of rain. 
Three large warships went up rixer in the afternoon. Perkins, 
Company H, lieutenant of guard. Reported Vicksburg is 
taken — another "capture of Vicksburg." Mail steamer 
arrived. Lieutenants Cogswell returned to company to-day, 
and all the men were highly pleased to see him. George 
Bowers, Company H, died. 

March 10, Tuesday. Very warm and showery, with heavy 
shower in the coming night. \\. M. Br)ant, Compan) D, 
rejoined company. Brigade drill, Dow in command. Cold 
nights; glad to get out early and warm us by the camp hre ; 
playing checkers. Corjioral Pi|)er returned to compan\- from 
hospital. George Bowers, Comjiany II, buried ; he was only 
seventeen years of age. The bodies are placed in an ambu- 
lance, and escorted by eight privates, with arms rexersed, 
and the band or muftled druiiis, and three xoUcns hred o\'er 
the grave. This is all the ceremony of bur}ing a soldier. 

March i i, W'ednesday. T'air ; cool; windw Dress parade 
omitted ; mud, but usual compau}- and battalion drill. Prac- 
ticed street firing. Cajjtain .\ldrich, Comix\n\- .A, officer of 
day. Sergeant Haines, Compan\- I), on guard at lower end 



Anny Life at Camp Parapet. 247 

of parapet — had two brass pieces to watch ; his beat was 
four hundred paces long. Trees of the swamp have been 
cut breast high ; full of underbrush. A man would sink in 
the mire all over. Sergeant Leavitt, Company A, sent to 
hospital. Sergeant Stevens has peach and orange blossoms 
on his table, and they are very fragrant. (3fficers have 
orange blossoms in their tents. 

March 1 2, Thursday. Warm ; very pleasant. Lieutenant 
Chadwick, Company D, visited camp. Sixth Michigan struck 
camp, and went up river in high spirits. Irving Whittemore, 
Company I{, worked in cook house. R. Potvvine arrived, 

DESCRIPTION OF A SEK(;E.\XT's QUARTERS. 

Note. Extract from letter: " The peach and orange trees are in full 
bloom now. I will send some orange blossoms in my letter, so you can 
get the fragrance if the flower is dry and faded. The captain has just 
come in my tent, and is playing checkers on my portfolio with my bed- 
fellow, Orderly Davis. By the way, I have not given }ou a description 
of my habitation in the land of lemons and oranges lately. We moved 
up stairs when we moved our tents to this place, and have our tent set up 
on stilts like a corn barn, only not so high. I put some standards into 
the ground and laid the floor on top of them ; then put the tent up, and 
the air has a chance to draw under and keep the ground dry and the tent 
much cooler and healthier. Tlie other boys wish they liad done the 
same. Our bunk is a foot and more from the floor, and plenty wide for 
two ; then we liave a centre table or bookstand with a newspaper spread, 
which I brought from New York, with writing materials and stationery, 
two books of tactics, two diaries, one roll book, one blank book, one 
ration book, one portfolio, one hair brush, several pens, pencils, picto- 
rials, newspapers, looking glass, comb, etc., etc.; then we have a cup- 
board up over the bed with blacking, clothes and blacking brushes, oil for 
guns, materials for cleaning and brightening brasses, etc., etc.; then at 
the foot of the bed in front there is a half barrel of sugar under the bed, 
several boxes containing tea, candles, soap, etc. Now you have a 
description of our house and its contents. Then our dining room is just 
across the street in a tent used only to eat in, our mess having a cook, 
who washes our dishes and takes care of them ; so you see we live like 
gents. Who would not sell his farm and be a soldier?'' 

Ser(;eant Stevexs, of Company K. 



248 The I'lftcoitli Xci^' Ilainpshirc ]'ohnitccrs. 

who was left sick in New York. Brigade drill, Dow in com- 
mand. S. \\ ()s<.,a)od, Compan)' K, arri\ed from New \'ork. 
Captain I'inkham came up from Xew Orleans with two 
deserters — Swain and Prescott, Company I. 

March 13, Friday. Very pleasant indeed. INIajor Aldrich, 
Captain Johnson, and Lieutenant Chadwick went out huntini;-, 
but saw no game but snakes and alligators. Priw (i. \\\ 
Batchelder, Company A, detailed as orderly at the telegraph 
office. Priv. Charles \i. Hanscomb, Compan}- \\, detailed as 
orderly at General Dow's headquarters. The " secesh " 
women are sometimes quite demonstrative ; last night they 
raised a rebel flag right in front of our two companies at 
Carrollton doing provost duty. No notice taken of it but to 
lower it. Brigade drill. lY'ddler girls about cam]). Sixth 
Michigan marched u]) ri\-er about ten miles to do j^icket dutw 

March 14, Saturday. Most beautiful day. Usual tlrill 
and so forth in the forenoon, but the afternoon was spent in 
cleaning up and preparing for the Sunday morning ins}K'ction. 
This night, from 9 to 12, was distinctly heard, at Camp 
Parapet, the terrific cannonading at Port Hudson, as Admiral 
Farragut ran the rebel batteries at that place, one hundred 
miles awa}- as tlie crow flies. Captain Johnson, Conuuissary 
Durgin, and " J^ilh," went to New ()rlcans, and retui'ned by 

NoTlc. I'"\tract tVoni letter : " All tlie tioops near 1)\- ^one up river 
and transi)()rt.s pass u]) and down all the time. Farramit has just gone 
up with the ' Harttord " and ' llrcmklyn ' and one other great man-of- 
war, with their topmasts all down ; lhe\- look like giants stripped for 
action. The provost guard is to police the citv of Carrollton. Captain 
Ela holds a sort of police court; tlie\ are to preserve order and suppress 
all demonstrations of disloyalty. One man has been tined $25,000 and 
sent to Tortugas tor two years tor attempting to smuggle goods to the 
enemy. School maims ha\e been lined tVom $1 to $300 for allow- 
ing their scholars to hurrah tor Jel'f Daxis and sing secesh songs and t'or 
flourishing rebel flags. All registered enemiis ot" the government are to 
take the oath of allegiance, or leave the country tor rebeldom betore the 
fifteenth of Mav." 



I 



Aniiy Life at Camp Parapet. 2z|9 

the 8 o'clock cars. Joseph \V. Chase went to the regimental 
hospital. Rumors of attack on our camp. Captain Aldrich 
shooting snakes down b\' the railroad ; killed twent}-five or 
thirty moccasins four to five feet long. Compan}' 1{ had fish 
hash for dinner. Farragut succeeded in passing with the 
"Hartford" and "Albatross"; the " Monongahela " and 
" Richmond " fell back, and the " Mississippi " grounded 
and was blown up b)' her commander. The flash of the 
" Mississippi's " explosion was seen by our guard. 

March 15, Sunday. Beautiful day ; shower at night. Usual 
inspection. Expect to go up ri\'er to meet the enem}- ; had 
orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice aboard 
transport for Baton Rouge ; great enthusiasm. Services in 
the yard of a fine southern residence, the regiment forming 
"hollow square" under a large live oak. Men stood at 
" parade rest " ; birds sang in the branches ; crowds of colored 
people of all ages stood around outside. Text, Kjih. 4:15. 
After service marched up river outside the parapet a mile 
or more, and returned to camp at noon. Lieutenant Stevens, 
Company K, sergeant of the guard, stationed at the Zouave 
camp. 

March 16, Monday. Beautiful day. No drill or i^iarade on 
account of last night's rain and mud. Orders read that any 
officer or man caught in New Orleans would be brought 
before court martial. Rumor that Port Hudson' is taken. 
Joseph W. Chase sent to hospital. William P. Avery, Com- 
pany B, died. 

March 17, Tuesda}'. boggy morning. Wn-}- warm and 
somewhat showery. Drill omitted. Participated in grand 
parade of the whole brigade, in which the parajiet was manned 
and its big guns fired. Grand sham fight, in which the 
batteries fired shot and shell at targets, and the ship " Ports- 
mouth " shelled the cypress woods toward Lake Pontchar- 
train. The Maine bo}s, in charge of the parapet guns. 



250 The Fiftcoith Xr.<.' Ilauipshiir ]'o[ii)itccrs. 

made some good shots. At the sham fight, ten rounds of 
blanks were fired. A mule in the distance, out front of the 
parapet, was killed by one of the jwrapet guns. Assistant 
Surgeon Towle ordered to report to Surgeon General I^axter, 
at the United States barracks, New Orleans. 

March 18, Wednesday. Very warm, bright day. Brigade 
drill, by General Dow; these drills are very hard, especially for 
the old guard, who are not excused from it, although from all 
others. Lieutenant Chadwick, Company I), returned to duty 
after his long illness. Corp. George H. Rand returned fnjm 
hospital. Abner \\\ Alorse, Company A, died at the marine 
hospital in New Orleans. Major Blair appointed acting 
lieutenant-colonel ; Captain Aldrich, Company A, appointed 
acting major; I^'irst Lieutenant Cogswell, Company A, 
ai:)pointed acting captain ; Second Lieutenant Hendley, Com- 
pany A, appointed acting first lieutenant ; acting ]\Lijor 
Aldrich appointed "regimental court martial." 

March 19, Thursday. Fair. Perkins, Company H, lieuten- 
ant of the guard. The Zouave regiment was present at the 
manou\-ering of the b'rigade, and gave an exhibition of fancy 
drill and the bayonet exercise, at which they are very pro- 
ficient. It was witnessed b}- thousands of critical eyes, and 
pronounced the finest exhibition of the kind ever seen in 
these fields. Company G had nineteen off duty sick and six 
others unfit for duty. ( )rficers' drill — Comjxany " (J " — from 
4 to 5.30; their awkwardness is highh" amusing to the bo}s. 

March 20, l^'riday. \'ery warm and jileasant ; brisk wind 
and dust in the afternoon for a time. After battalion drill the 
lieutenant-colonel, Blair, dismissed the regiment with "break 
ranks" in the field, and all returned to camj:) at will. Perkins, 
Compaii}' II, lieutenant of s])ecial guard up the parapet to 
the swamp. G. W. Taxlor and I). P. Watson sent to 
hospital. A. lulmunds returned from hosjMtal, haxing been 
there se\en weeks. Joseph W. Chase died. The bo}s, with 
the band, serenade the new major, Aldrich. 



I 



W: 



t 



Annj> Life at Camp Parapet. 251 

March 21, Saturday. \^ery hot, with fine showers and 
thunder. Joseph \V. Chase buried out back of the parapet. 
J. (). Langley, Aaron luhnunds, and A. L. Sanborn returned 
to duty from hospital. Colonel Kingman, who has been sick, 
resumes command. About six out of each company go on 
guard duty every day ; most always some of them are 
stationed down the railroad in the swamp, and when "off" 
amuse themselves shooting snakes and alligators. Preparing 
for to-morrow's inspection. Sergeant Stevens, Company K, 
acted as lieutenant at drill. 

March 22, Sunday. Warm, with showers at night. Usual 
Sunday inspection. Lieutenant Chadwick in command of 
Company D. Very heavy shower in the afternoon. Captain 
Johnson and Lieutenant Durgin went on horseback to Lake 
Pontchartrain. Company D boys shot and brought into camp 
from the picket line an alligator seven feet long. Some of 
the flesh was cooked ; it was very white and nice looking, 
but was coarse-grained and had a fishy taste. The lower 
jaw bone was boiled clean of the flesh and showed a wonder- 
ful set of teeth. Company D now became known as the 
alligator company. Mail steamer "Bio Bio" burned at 
New Orleans just as she reached her wharf. Charles P. 
Davis, Company A, sent to hospital. Mosquitoes begin 
their ravages. The boys dragged the big alligator to camp. 
It was a monster for these regions, and was thought to have 
devoured a negro child that disappeared recently. 

March 23, Monday. Rained heavily all day and into the 
night ; tremendous shower at 8 a. m. ; terrific lightning and 
thunder. Roby True went to hospital. Stevens, Company 
K, sergeant of the interior guard. A. C. Haines carried 
breakfast \o the guard down to the railroad. 

March 24, Tuesday. Showery forenoon, with hail ; cleared 
off cold, with high wind, in the afternoon ; high north wind 
all night ; very muddy. Xo drill or parade. Nathaniel 
Robinson, Jr., returned to duty from the hospital. Captain 



252 The Fiftcciith Xci^ Hampsltiir I'olnntccrs. 

Johnson antl Lieutenant Dur^in in New Orleans ; returned 
on the six o'elock cars. Ordered to be prepared for i^eneral 
inspection at 10 o'clock; worked hard scourini;' brasses and 
polishing guns, and while waiting for the drum the order 
was countermanded. leaked beans for l^reakfast. A. C. 
Haines on guard at the railroad. Wind subsided with the 
setting of the moon. Wallace, Company I, sergeant of the 
guard. Charles Goodhue detailed on extra duty as clerk in 
the ordnance department. 

March 25, Wednesda)'. \'ery pleasant. " Prei:iare for 
inspection " ; inspection did not come off. No parade or drill. 
Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Durgin gunning ; Captain 
Johnson shot an alligator three feet long. Charles C. Tuttle 
was sent to regimental hospital. ]^ig guns on j-jarapet hred 
at target. Mud nearl\' all dried up. Meat hash for dinner, 
hasty pudding for supper. 

March 26, Thursday. \<tx)' pleasant indeed, (ieorge W. 
Taylor returned from regimental hospital. And now they 
cut cane brake in great quantities and bring it to cam}), where 
it is laid across ix)les which are elexated on uprights, and so 
build a complete awning oxer all the compau)- streets. This 
makes a cool and delightful shade in the hot da\'s ; seats are 
arranged beneath. Blackberries ripe. Brigade drill. Compan}- 
K went two miles to the railroad to get cane to build sun 
house. W. V . Mansfield, Compau)' K, died in the hospital 
at 10.30 in the e\ening. William A. l^^i\"e, Company (i, tlied 
at 1 I'. M., the first of Company G"s boys to tlie ; Company 
(i in sadness. Corp. Jose]~)h Calef, Com]ian\' K, for using 
insulting language to a sui)erior ofticer. is reduced to the 
ranks, and l'ri\-. Charles W. (iould, appointeil to Hll the 
\-acanc}-. 

March 27, i-'rida}'. Warm ami pleasant, with some ai)pear- 
ance of showers. Set aixul b}- the enem\' as a day ot hist- 
ing and jM-aying for Jeff Davis. Charles C. J^'uller returned 
to cjuarters from regimental hos]iital. Compan\ C xoted to 



Anin> Lift' at Cauip Parapet. 253 

send home the body of Foye, and any other, cost what it 
would. Company G escorted Foye's body to main entrance 
with reversed arms, band playing the "dead march." Com- 
pan)- K escorted the body of Mansfield to the main entrance, 
with reversed arms, the band playing a funeral dirge. Com- 
pany D turned out the old cooks and put in new ones. 
Brigade drill. Man accidentally shot in Zouave regiment. 
New order for " calls " issued. 

Headquarters U. S. Forces, Carrollton, La., 

Camp Parapet, March 27, 1863. 
General Orders \ 
No. 22. \ 

The following " list of calls"' will take effect from March 28, 1863, 
and will be strictly enforced until further orders : 

Drummers" call, 5 A. m. 

Reveille, 5.15 A. :\i. 

Breakfast call, 6.30 a. .m. 

Surgeon's call, 7 a. .m. 

First call for parade and company inspection, 8 A. .M. 

Regimental parade, 8.30 A. m. 

First call for battalion drill, 9 a. .m. 

Battalion drill. 9.15 a. m. 

Recall from drill, 10.45 a. m. 

Dinner call, 12 m. 

Fatigue call, i p. .ai. 

Recall from fatigue, 3.30 p. m. 

First call for guard mounting, 3.45 p. .m. 

(iuard mounting and first call for company drill, 4 p. M. 

Company drill, 4.15 p. m. 

Recall from company drill, 5.30 i". .m. 

Drummers" call, 15 minutes before retreat. 

Retreat parade at sundown. 

Drummers" call, 8.30 p. .M. 

Tattoo, 8.45 p. M. 

Taps, 9 p. .M. 

First call for Sunday inspection, 7.15 A. M. 

Sunday inspection, 7.30 a. m. 

Church call, 11 A. M. 



2 54 I^lic FiftcciitJi Nciv Hampshire ]^ol!intccTs. 

More particular attention must hereafter be given to tliese duties. In a 
great many cases there has not been a " dnmimers" call" preliminary to 
roll call. Tlie revised Army Regulations clearly define the course to be 
pursued by both officers and men in relation to these important duties, 
and commanding officers of regiments and detachments will be held to 
a strict accountability for any violation of them. All irregularities that 
heretofore existed must at once cease. 

Brigade drills will lie substituted for regimental on Tuesdays and 
Thursdavs. 



B\' order of 



I5KIG. Oex. Dow. 



[Signed] Olhek M.\tthews, 

Official: Lt. and A. A. A. Gciil. 

Edw. E. F^ink.h.a.m, 

Adjt. 

March 28, Saturday. \'ery hot. Uress parade, but no 
drill. Tremendous shower at midni_^ht. Cleaning up for 
the morning inspection. Roby True, C\)mpany (i, died at 
Carrollton at 10 o'clock in the evening. So still can hear 
flies buzz. Roby True's body escorted to main entrance b\' 
Company G, with reversed arms, and band ; his bod}-, with 
Foye's and Mansfield's, started for home. (See pages 22, 23. 
and 30.) Blackberries ripe. iXndrew C. Giles, Company K, 
handed in his name to go in charge of negro regiment. 
Perkins, lieutenant of guard, and Trickey, of Compan}' I, 
sergeant of guard. 

March 29, .Sunday. Cool and cloud}-, with slight s]irink- 
ling of rain. I^'ranklin Clay detailed on dail}- dut}- as hospital 
nurse. Inspection omitted- mud. Gunboat " Mononga- 
hela " went down rixer. Poor 'Prue had been looking loi-ig 
for a letter ; it came to-da}-, two da}'s too late. " Free " 
Dockham on guard to-i-iight. 

March 30, Monday. \'er}- cold night ; cloud}-; northeast 
wind. William C. Donovan and Stephen Hilton returned to 
Company D from desertion. P^xtract from remarks on muster 
roll of August 13, 1863, relating to Ste])lien Hilton: "Since 
his return he has been one of our best soldiers." Caxalry 
landed and c-aniped on shell road. Rounding uj) streets. 



Aniiy Life at Camp Parapet. 255 

March 31, Tuesday. Clear and cool and pleasant; wind 
northeast. Brigade drill in the forenoon, b}' General Uow, 
and inspection at night by Lieutenant-colonel Blair, who 
found fault with some of the men. The " Portsmouth " 
to-day, while practising with shells, sent one wide of the 
mark, which, exploding over the Zouave camp, killed one of 
their corporals ; a piece of shell entered his tent and cut the 
top of his head completely off. Our guard up to the railroad 
brought in a piece that fell among them, weighing four 
pounds. Lieutenant Sea\'ey, Company H, returned to duty 
from sickness. Stevens, Company K, sergeant of the guard. 

Company A, morning report March 31, 54 privates for duty. 

- D, ^ " " 49 

" E, " " 51 

F, " " 46 

G, " " 50 
" H, '' " 44 
« I, " " 52 

K, " - 56 

Companies B and C absent on provost dut}- at Carrollton. 

The sickness in Company D for this month was quite as 
serious as last month. Lieutenant Chadwick remained on 
the sick list till the eighteenth, when he returned to duty, 
and remained on duty only till the twenty-fourth, when he 
again was reported sick, and remained so reported through 
the rest of the month. Of non-commissioned ofificers and 
men of Company D on the sick list, there were reported on 
the first, 14 ; on the second and third, 16 ; on the fourth, 
fifth, and sixth, 18 ; on the seventh, 17 ; on the eighth, 
ninth, and tenth, 18 ; on the eleventh, 20 ; on the twelfth 
and thirteenth, 21 ; on the fourteenth, 23 ; on the fifteenth, 
19; on the sixteenth, 20; on the seventeenth and eighteenth. 



256 The Fifteen t/i Xcic Hampshire Volunteers. 

24; on the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-hrst, 21 ; on 
the t\vent_\"-see()ncl, 20; on the t\vent}-third, iS; on the 
t\vent}-f()urth, 16 ; on the twenty-hfth, 14 ; on the twenty- 
sixth, 15 ; on the twenty-seventh, 17 ; on the twenty-ei,i;hth, 
18 ; on the twenty-ninth, 14 ; on the thirtieth, 16 ; on the 
thirty-first, 15. This would prohal:)ly show a fair axerage for 
all the companies. 



Aniiy Life at Camp Parapet. 
The Sick for March. 



■S7 







Non-commis- 






Date. 


Officers. 


sioned officers. 


Privates. . 


Totals. 


March i 


8 


16 


87 


1 1 1 


2 


8 


15 


72> 


96 


3 


9 


15 


84 


108 


4 


II 


16 


91 


1 18 


5 


II 


19 


93 


122 


6 


10 


16 


104 


130 


7 


10 


14 


94 


118 


8 


8 


17 


99 


124 


9 


9 


22 


104 


.135 


lO 


8 


22 


116 


146 


II 


9 


21 


119 


149 


12 


9 


22 


119 


150 


13 


8 


26 


131 


.65 


14 


8 


28 


129 


165 


15 


7 


33 


130 


170 


i6 


7 


27 


III 


145 


I? 


7 


28 


125 


160 


iS 


7 


24 


125 


156 


19 


7 


24 


125 


156 


20 


8 


26 


118 


152 


21 


8 


26 


118 


152 


22 


8 


24 


lOI 


133 


-3 


8 


23 


91 


122 


24 


9 


23 


92 


124 


-5 


9 


22 


89 


120 


26 


9 


23 


93 


I 25 


27 


9 


23 


91 


' -3 


28 


9 


22 


90 


121 


29 


9 


23 


90 


122 


30 


7 


22 


79 


118 


31 


9 


23 


82 


114 



258 TJic FiftiCtith Xc-u' HanipsJiiir ]\)Iuntccrs. 

Events for April, 1863, i;v D.nv and Datk. 

April I, Wednesday. X^ery pleasant indeed, with cool 
northeast wind. General inspection of the regiment by 
Captain Wheeler, of the Sixth Michigan. The regiment 
never looked better, and the inspecting officer was \ery 
C()m}ilimentary. " If anything," he said, "the guns are too 
bright." Got through inspection at 2 p. .m. Colonel King- 
man sick. After inspection, Comi^an}- (i i)ractiscd the 
skirmish drill under Captain Osgood, who had now returned 
to duty, having been sick nearly two months in New Orleans. 
Boat load of troops went up the rixer. Trees are in bloom; 
grass, particularly clover, is rank and tall and read}' for the 
scythe. A detail of Company B went fishing and procured 
a catfish, of which the compan}' had a chowder for supper. 

April 2, Thursday, l^eautiful day, clear and cool. Brigade 
drill, General Dow. Lieutenant Wallingford sick, threatened 
with a fever. Joseph Farrington, in evening, taken with 
cramp and colic. Major Aldrich mounted at parade for first 
time. Major Aldricli in command to-da}'. Sergeant West, 
Com])any (i, returned from hospital. All the officers and non- 
commissioned officers met at major's to organize for officers' 
drill twice a week. Osgood chosen president of meeting. 
Captain Hall chosen cai:)tain, and Russell. Company 1^, 
orderly ; drilled an hour. This is the second time Company 
O, as it is called, has been organized. 

NoTi:. Extract from a soldier's letter: " The otilicers that inspected 
us yesterday told General Dow, aiul tlie major told us. that tlie Fifteenth 
New Hampshire regiment was the best drilled, and their equipments were 
kept the neatest, of anv nine months" regiment in the department that he 
had inspected, and he liad licen most through it all. The major told us 
that if we could not ha\e the honor of going into battle, there was one 
thing we could have the praise of. ami that was of being the best nine 
months' regiment in the South. We are in the tirst brigade, second 
division of the Nineteenth Army Corps, (".en. T. W. Sherman has 
command of the dixision. He is a steiMi looking old fellow: his hair is 
turning yrav : he is verv much unlike C.eneral Dow. Dow is a small 



Annj' Life at Camp Parapet. 259 

April 3, Friday. Beautiful, clear and cool. Lieutenants 
Cogswell and Durj^in went together to New Orleans, where 
the)' had green peas for dinner. Trickey, sergeant of interior 
guard. Kingman and Blair both sick. Aldrich took com- 
mand of battalion drill for the first time. (Officers drill under 
Hall. Dews so heavy as to wet the tents through like rain. 

April 4, Saturday. Beautiful, clear and cool ; ver)- heavy 
dews. No rain for a long time ; ground getting \'ery dry and 
hard, almost like stone. Lieutenant Durgin visited New 
Orleans and collected $603.78, company savings ; this was 
for the whole regiment. Levi Barker sent to hospital. 
Lieutenant Wallingford taken to Carrollton for better care. 
Lieutenant Larkin, Sergeants Davis and Stevens, Company 
K, visited New Orleans ; crossed to Algiers and \isited the 
Sixteenth. Battalion drill ; Aldrich in command. Colonels 
Kingman and Blair both sick. Captain Stearns and Lieu- 
tenant Parker both sick in hospital. Officers drill ; the boys 
stand around and laugh at them. Perkins on extra guard 
three hours at night. 

man, and very pleasant ; he will come round the camp and talk witli the 
boy.s : he wears his hair long and combs it back behind his ears : it is 
turning gray. I shall have to stop now and go for my dinnei. We had 
boiled beef and potatoes for breakfast, and we have fried ])ork and 
potatoes for dinner. We draw a loaf of bread each every dav, and liave 
tea or coffee with each meal." 

Note. Extract from letter: " Tlie inspector-general the other day 
said we were the best nine months' regiment he had seen in the service, 
and which pleased the ' old col." so that he drew us up in hohow sciuare 
and told us of it." 

Note. A model soldier's letter from Lieutenant Perkins, of Company H : 

"Camp P.arapet, Carrollton, La., April 4. 1863. 
Dear Jenny : 

I have not heard a word from you since yours of March 10. which was 
received two weeks ago to-morrow. We ha\-e recei\ed no mail here since 
that time, except a few scattering letters by transports which left New 
York before the twelfth ultimo. 1 don't know what the trouble is, per- 



26o The Fiftccjith Xcic HampsJiiir W^luntccrs. 

haps some vessels have been lost or captured ; but it is very provoking to 
be obliged to wait so long when we are all so anxious to hear the particu- 
lars of the election. The weather is beautiful now, but very cool for this 
region ; there was some frost this morning on the grass. We have not 
been paid yet, but are expecting it every day. There is some talk at 
headquarters of sending a regiment from tliis brigade over to the lake, 
and there is a slight chance that we may go tliere ; at an\- rate I hope so, 
for I have got so tired of staying here that I would be willing to go 
almost anywhere for the sake of a change and a little excitement. The 
One Hundred and Sixty-fifth New York (Zouave), and Sixth .Michigan, 
were sent over tliere a week or two since, and have had quite a little 
brush witli the rebels : tlie}- drove them away from a fort wliich they were 
building there, probably with the intention of collecting a force there to 
make a dash on us some time. The\' captured three vessels laden with 
cotton, and took a good deal of plunder besides. One man was killed, a 
captain, and three or four wounded, who have been sent back iiere. The 
Zouaves, one company of which was left here to guard their camp, have 
been very unfortunate, having lixst three men within a few days. The 
first was shot dead by the accidental discharge of a ritle, caused h\ a 
stack being blown over before the guard tent ; the second was a sentinel 
who was shot on his post by the corporal, who savs that he found iiim 
asleep and while trying to get his gun from him it went off and killed 
him, but the general opinion is that tliere was a scufHe and the corporal 
shot him i)urix)sely, as the ball went straight through his head from ear to 
ear; the third was by a shell which was fired by the "Portsmouth": 
they were practising to ascertain the length of fuse required to shell tlie 
railroad; one of the shells burst in the air directly o\er the parapet wliere 
the railroad crosses, and a piece of it went into their camp, half a mile 
distant, pas.sed through the tent where the man was lying and struck him 
on the forehead; he lived but a few hours. It was very careless firing, 
many of the pieces came very near hitting tlie guard at the parapet. 1 
have not been to tlie cit\' vet. but think of going next week. Our 
chaplain has left us. having received some ai)])ointment as superintendent 
of negro laborers on plantations. We have no religious services what- 
ever, and nobody seems to think or care anything about it. Tliev have 
given U]) such matters to the darkies, and tiie\- seem to manage them a 
good deal better than we can. We have a new surgeon. Dr. llorsch, 
from Dover. I believe: he is liked very nuich. and I think is an excellent 
surgeon. Holmes (William F.) is still in the hospital and is gaining, but 
is pretty sick yet. Alexander is getting quite smart. Lieutenant Seavey 
returned to the company yesterday: he has recovered from his sickness. 



Annv Life at Cavip Parapet. 261 

April 5, Sunday. Very warm, but beautiful, bright day. 
Usual company inspections. Bushels of blackberries are 
brought into camp. Members of Company I went three 
miles over the parapet for blackberries. Major Aldrich in 
command ; Lieutenant Perkins on extra guard at night. 
Many visit Lake Pontchartrain by the beautiful shell road ; 
it is a most pleasant trip, and is six miles from camp. The 
road is lined with men and officers, many of them mounted 
and brilliant in gold and army blue. At the lake is a water- 
ing place where the gay people of New Orleans mcjst did 
congregate before the war droxe all their }'oung and able- 
bodied men into the rebel army. The mighty waters stretch 
away into the dreary distance beyond the reach of human 
ken. It is still a place of great animation and where tropical 
trees and plants and flowers thrive and bloom in wondrous 
profusion. Colonel Kimball, Fifty-third Massachusetts, is 
met on the way, mounted and with his hands full of strange 
blossoms. It is well remembered that he reined up to a 
company of boys who were sauntering along, of whom the 
writer of this was one, and showed them a flowering spike or 
plume of a vermillion hue which was dazzling to the eye. He 
was apparently a great lover of all of nature's handiwork, and 

but is not strong enough to do duty yet. .We have received moscjuito 
bars for every man in the regiment ; they came to-da_\-. We ha\'e not 
tried them yet, but thinlc they will keep ofif the van/iinfs completely. 
They are furnished without expense to the men, but are to be returned by 
them, and if lost or destroyed are to be paid for, $3.20 apiece. What do 
you think of my bringing home a darkey bo_\? I have serious thoughts of 
it if you think best. 

" I haven't time to write any more this time, so I must leave the rest of 
this sheet blank, but you may imagine that it is all filled with i)raise of 
your goodness, wisdom, virtue, wit and beauty, for it was my intention 
to devote the rest to that purpose. I want to write to uncle and aunt, but 
don't know as they are there yet. 

Yours, 

Washington. ■■■ 



262 The Fifteenth Xei^' Hampshire I'oluiitcers. 

and this was a masterly stroke of it which he had ne\er seen 
before. There are infinite varieties at the lake, with bees and 
humniin_^- birds fiittini; amoni;- them, and such minds as his are 
lost there and find no words to express their emotions. It is 
observed that the hues of all flowers here are far more lively 
and brilliant than at the North, exce])t the white, which are 
slightly tanned and tawny. I'lants of these white roses grow 
here and at Carrollton that cover a whole large house, embrac- 
ing roof and all its parts, and pendent e\-erywhere like a giant 
grapevine, and all its branches loaded with fragrant roses 
now in full bloom. The oleanders grow like alders ; and the 
"pride of China " and the matchless "cape flower." In a 
corner of a garden, laid out with shaded bowers and shell 
walks. Lieutenant Perkins and this writer found where some 
rich owner had brought together every known \ariety of roses 
from o\'er the whole world's surface. So this day was spent 
in God's own matchless temples, and in the only way whereby 
ignorant and puny man can pay his creator any true or fitting 
worship and homage. 

April 6, Monday. Very pleasant indeed. Sergt. J. J. 
Swain, Com])any I), and Priv. C. D. Johnson are sent to 
hospital ; I). P. Mason, Company D, returns from hospital. 
Orderly Russell, Company PI, acts as lieutenant of the guard. 
Heretofore there have been two brigade drills per week, now 
three are ordered. Ca])tains Hall and (lordon returned from 
New ( )rleans. Steamer arrived with black scjldiers. Colonels 
Kingman and Hlair both very sick ; Major Aldrich in com- 
mand at brigade drill. A. C. Haines goes on guard at 4 
I'. .M. Orderl)- Russell as lieutenant of patrol guard; Lieu- 
tenant Perkins on extra guard at night. Got mosquito bars. 
Seized some rebel property to-day two miles from camp — 
thirt}' mules and harnesses and one thousand bushels of 
corn. 

April 7. 'i'uesda)-. \'ery pleasant indeed. Colonels King- 
man and Hlair both still sick. Captain Johnson being sick 



Army Life at Camp Parapet. 263 

and excused from duty, Lieutenant Durgin took command at 
battalion drill. In the evening Lieutenant Durgin to(jk 
twelve men, and went outside the lines to a negro meeting. 
Officers in Company " O " drill after supper. Boys with the 
band serenade Captain Hall. Lieutenant Perkins on extra 
guard. All have blackberry sauce and fruit cakes for supper. 
Sergeant Brown, of Company G, being sick and excused, 
made sketches of scenes about camp, some of which are repro- 
duced in this work. On one of these days Colonel Blair was 
pronounced dead by his attendants, he lying in a comatose 
condition for a considerable time, but was resuscitated by the 
surgeons. 

Note. Although mentioning rehgious services and faithfully recording 
every appearance of the chaplain, it must not be thought that the historian 
does in any measure approve or countenance the monstrous doctrines and 
frauds of any religion based on pecuniary support. The poor, lowly, and 
susceptible negro, in his new freedom, like all other ignorant and gullil)le 
peoples, has been approached by crafty and designing men wlio, while 
making a great pretense of virtue and morality, preach to them a personal 
devil, which every intelligent man must know is a myth, and that they are 
born sinners and subject to the wrath of a cruel God, who has prepared 
for them a hell of fire and brimstone, into which they must be plunged at 
the end of life, and there live and wail and gnash their gums and writhe 
forever, for they are instructed that even a worm cannot die therein ; and 
they prove all this from a book which they tell them was written by God 
himself. They tlius thoroughly frighten these timid souls, causing them 
untold misery. They then explain to them that there is a means of escape, 
but all of which ends in passing of an old hat, with a rehash of the story of 
the widow and her two mites and the tireless admonition that it is better 
for others to give than to receive. And by such despicable means these 
creatures of an all-wise God are practiced upon and deceived and cheated 
and subjected to a state of mental thraldom worse, if possible, than their 
old condition of personal bondage. In this age it seems to many that 
thev who thus deceive and defraud tlie lowly are the most wicked and 
heartless of all those who scheme to live by the sweat of other brows, and 
that of all fraudulent means whereby a class filch their living from the 
toilers of earth, the scheme of salvation, as thus laid down, is the most 
ridiculous and contemptible; but the scheme must go on, and the pro- 



264 TJic FiftccntJi New Haiupsliirc ]\^luntccrs. 

April 8, Wednesday. \ki\\ pleasant indeed. Colonels 
Kingman and Blair still botli \<ix\ sick. Major Aldrich in 
command of the regiment. Sergeant . Ambrose and R. S. 
Williams return from hospital to duty. Lieutenant Perkins, of 
Compan)- H, on extra guard. On the promotion of Captain 
Aldrich, Company B becomes the first compan}- and Com- 
pany A the second. This forenoon's brigade drill, under 
General Dow, passed off remarkabl}- well. Much taste is 
displayed in fixing up the grounds and company streets. All 
is roofed in now and the whole regimental front, with 
awnings of cane poles, which make a refreshing shade, with 
seats arranged beneath. IVIuch architectural genius is dis- 
played. There are flowers in the tents, and some officers 
have them growing in beds around their quarters. Lieu- 
tenant Perkins has s(jme fresh green stuff planted in the 
letters of his boy's name — "David" — in front of his tent. 

April 9, Thursday. \"er}- pleasant indeed. Colonels 
Kingman and Blair both still sick. Major Aldrich in com- 
mand at battalion drill. Charles E. White returned from 
hospital. Lieutenant Perkins on extra guard. Men seen 
mowing. Lieutenant Pickering, of Company A, mo\-ed into 
a wall tent with Ira A. Mill, and built a bunk and put up 
mosquito bars. 

ceeds of toil go to ])rou(l and idle hands till tlic i)roduccis of earth lieconie 
intelligent and spirited enough to eschew open and palpable fraud, and 
rebel against the wiles of such adversaries. And now the blind zeal of 
these ignorant creatures to escape this imaginary devil and hell are 
ludicrous in the e.vtreme, and furnish unlimited amusement to all. None 
stop to consider that if this scheme of salvation could succeed with him it 
would only amount to his individual elevation to a state of bliss, while the 
multitude howls on forever in Tophet, and which singular condition would 
be another hell, for no true man could seek good for himself that should 
not come to all others also. Hut nature's law of the sur\i\al of the fittest 
is not so nuieh that the heartless and designing shall not imjxise on igno- 
rance and superstition as that the ignorant and superstitous shall as.sert 
themselves, and resist imposition and fraud. Just so long as the producers 
of earth remain hinds there will be wolves to devour them. The only true 
religion is humanitv and brotherly lo\'e, ami the (Uil\ crime and sin (A 
earth is human cui)idit\- and "■reed. 



I 

I 
I 



Ajiny Life at Camp Parapet. 265 

Note. Extract from a soldier's letter : 

"Camp Parapet, April 9, 1863. 
Dear Wife: 

Your letter of March 25 was received yesterday, being the first since 
yours of the tenth, whicli I received eighteen days ago. To-da\ I got 
one dated March 18, and if you have written two a week, as you say 
you will in spite of me, there must be at least three since the tenth which 
have not got here vet. I am in hopes to get them, however, yet, as I 
have received all your letters but one (February 4) up to March 10. 
The ' Marion," which left New York the twenty-si.xth with three or four 
davs mail, has not arrived, and there are some fears that she is lost. My 
health continues good, but I have had a very severe cold in my head. I 
have been out on a sort of patrol guard for six nights, and shall probably 
have to go for some time, but don't know how long. Our generals got 
information that some thirty or forty ship carpenters had been hired in 
the city by the rebels to go out to the lake to work on gunboats, and that 
thev intended to get through the lines, and this guard was put on to 
prevent them. There are six of us — two go together — so that we are 
on one third of the night. iMv turn comes from 11 till 2 or 3. The 
nights are very pleasant, but cold : we wear overcoats, and sometimes 
have a fire in our tents. Last Saturday I started alone, and walked over 
to the lake: it was a beautiful day, and I enjoyed my walk very much, 
but got pretty tired, having walked nearly fifteen miles. It is about six 
miles from here to the lake as we have to go, but is probabl}' not more 
than three in a straight line. I went around by the Zoua\e camp to the 
race course, where the Forty-seventh Massachusetts and Second Battery 
are encamped. Spent an hour oi- two in looking through the cemeteries 
there, which are very beautiful and tast\- ; most of those who die in the 
city are deposited here. Then on the shell road to the lake the road runs 
alongside the canal, and the l;)ed of it is made of the earth which is dug 
out of the canal. It is the most splendid road I ever saw, hard and 
smooth as a cement fioor and shaded by a row of willows the whole 
length, but runs through one of the most dismal swamps you can imagine, 
covered with a heavv growth of cypress. The trees here are covered 
with a sort of moss, which hangs from them like ropes, some of them ten 
feet in length, giving the forest a very solemn, gloomy appearance. This 
moss is collected by negroes, cured, and put up in bales like cotton, and 
is quite an article of commerce. A great deal is sent North, and is used 
to stutf furniture : when cured it resembles curled hair. Blackberries are 
getting ripe enough to stew for sauce, and we have them every day: they 



266 The Fifteenth Xew Hampshire ]'o/iinteers. 

are a great treat for us, and help clown our dry bread. We have plenty 
of sugar and molasses, and sometimes we indulge ourselves with a little 
butter, but it is rather steep to pay forty-tive cents a pound for sucli poor 
sturt' as we get liere. We can get milk l)y paying five cents for a pint 
dippur two thirds hili and half water at that — (|uite a difference ijetween 
that and selling it at two cents a (juart. 

"A great many of the troops have come back from Baton Rouge, the 
Eighth and Sixteenth New Hampshire among them, and are going to 
Berwick I5av on some expedition, l)Ut it is kept pretty secret. They go 
by land, and last night I could hear the cars on the other side of the river 
going continually. I haven't much faith in anvthing, however, being 
accomplished. The Zouaves have returned, and Colonel Clark, of the 
Sixth Michigan, sent a dispatch to General Sherman that the rel)els had 
destroyed our gunboats at ^lanchac pass by a masked battery, and that 
his situation was rather critical. Commodore Farragut is between Port 
Hudson and Vicksburg, but we don't get much information from him. I 
have no doubt but he will do all he can, for he is one of the few that have 
taken a part in the war that I liave any faith in. 1 see no prospect of our 
regiment having anything to do while we stay here: in fact, we are not in 
a condition to go into the field, on account of so many of our officers 
being sick and unfit for duty. Colonel Kingman and Major Blair, wiio is 
acting lieutenant-colonel, are both C|uite sick, and will not probably be 
able to do anything f'or a month or two: Captain Aldrich, who is acting 
major, liut has not had mucli experience, being the only held officer. 
There are l)ut foiu' captains antl nine lieutenants out of the eight com- 
panies here who are on duty. 1 don't know as 1 have ever written you 
that two companies have not been with the regiment since we landed, but 
have been doing guard duty at Carrollton. I'll tell you what I think cau.ses 
half of the sickness, and that is whiskey. There are but three officers 
who do not use it, my humble self being one of them, and we are the 
only ones in the regiment who have done duty every day since we went 
into camp, and yet the doctors and almost e\er\l)ody else are all the time 
recommending it. Holmes is improving, but very slowly. Brainerd. who 
carries the mail, is sick in the hospital, antl Luther (.M. L. Moore) has 
taken his place. That picture looks some like a woman 1 used to know up 
in New Hampshire, but I think she is a good deal better looking than the 
picture is. 1 sent yon a sketch of the vicinity here some time ago, but as 
you may not have received it, 1 have drawn another, which 1 think is very 
nearly correct. I see by the papers tliat tiiere are no less than five 
Perkinses in the legislature this year: it is fortunate that 1 did \\o\ get a 
chance to go, for I think there are f'ull enough without me. \'ou spoke 



.limy Life at Camp Parapet. 267 

April 10, Friday. \'ery pleasant ; some cloudy in the 
forenoon ; wind southeast. Major Aldrich in command. 
Hrii;ade drill ; very hard battalion drill for two hours. Beans 
for breakfast, fresh beef for dinner, j)each sauce and bread 
for supper. Of Company I, Captain Pinkham is sick and 
gone to Carrollton, Lieutenant Moore is on guard, and 
Sergeant Courtland in command at brigade drill. Dress 
parade. Sergeant Trickey acting as orderly. Sergeant 
Trickey sat up with Garland last night. The Company K 
boys and band serenaded Lieutenant Wood in the evening. 
Lieutenant Perkins on extra guard. 

April II, Saturday. Warm and very pleasant; wind 
southeast ; signs cjf rain. Major Aldrich in command. 
Battalion drill. Captain Hall and Company K boys went for 
canes ; got great quantities of blackberries. Lieutenant 
Durgin went to New C)rleans and below ; saw men haying. 
Doughnuts and blackberry sauce for supper. Company K 
boys and band serenaded Lieutenant Larkin in the evening. 
Irving Whittemore, of Company E, \isited Captain Stearns 
and Lieutenant Parker at Carrollton, where both are sick. 
Lieutenant Perkins went to New Orleans. 

of uncle's poetry in your last letter, Init I can't give my opinion of it, for 
I have not received it vet ; but I hear this evening that the mail from the 
twelfth to the twenty-second has arrived at New Orleans, and if so, we 
shall get it to-morrow. I hear, too, that the mail leaves New Orleans 
to-morrow ; if so, this will not go until the next one, as we have to get 
letters in one day before the mail goes. Tell David I can't swallow that 
story about the wood — it is rather steep : I guess he will have to take oft' 
five or six bushels. 

Yours, 

Washin-gtox.'' (Lieutenant I'erkins.) 

Note. The following verbatim extract is from the diary of Lieutenant 
Pickering, of Company A. It is a more graphic description of a day at 
the parapet than could be written by any except the immortal Shakespeare 
himself. It is presumed that it will be as interesting to others as Xo your 
historian. It is, in a sense, extremely pathetic, as its orthography and 



268 The Fifteenth Xeic Hampshire ]'o/iinteers. 

rhetoric and grammatical construction show how hoys of the Ijrave old 
days, who were amply endowed by nature for tlie liiii;hest walks of life, 
from motives of patriotic duty gave up all the early training of the schools 
and its advantages at their country's call, and even lite itself. Now that 
he has answered the last roll-call, and earlier than he should, by many 
years, because of hardships endured in the service, especial honor should 
be done his memory. His diary will he freely copied from in this work, 
with some of its literarv inaccuracies corrected, so far as thev mav be bv 
one who, like himself, can boast of no skill in letters except that obtained 
in the country school. This appears to he a new book and his first entry. 
Such as he, after the return of peace, with shattered health, sought hon- 
orable employments in life, and became useful and industrious citizens. 
Like the old soldiers of Cromwell, they became the best bricklavers and 
masons and carpenters in all the realm : Init competition was sharp, and 
they returned from the war to find their vacated places now occupied by 
those who remained behind : and the heartless world moved on. in a 
great measure unmindful and unthinking of their just dues. 15v younger 
men of better training and lawyers they were, in many instances, over- 
reached and defiauded. The pay of the great masses was thirteen 
dollars per month, in paper worth about forty cents to the dollar — 
between sixty and seventy dollars per year — and tVom which was 
deducted their clothing and blankets : and when the government sought 
to relieve them l)y pensions, the crv was raised that thev had alreadv had 
their i)ay in full. Meantime the millionaire lenders who remained at 
home received their ])ay in gold and se\en and three tenths per cent, 
interest; and this our arm\- of returned industrious soldiers set to work 
uncomplainingly to i)ay. and in large measure earned the verv money 
also which was paid back to them in their meagre pensions. 

••.\])ril II. Received two letters from Home, one was wrote .March 
13, 1863, and the other was wrote March 15. There was a good large 
male come in to day, and the boys were [irity well pleased with it, and it 
is fun to see them fiock around when the male comes in. Everv one of 
them is on liand at a moment's warning, and as soon as they get them 
they are as still as deth until they get them red, and then tiiey will come 
aroiuul a looking so good you would think that thev were good enuf to 
eat. It is Saturday to day, and we don't have any company drill to da\ , 
on account of scouring and preparing for the Sunday morning inspection, 
and there is a lot of the boys off picking blackberryes, and we have them 
at allmost every meal; thay are thick hear now, but not so thick as they 
will be. Major Aldrich has been sick for two or three days, hut not very 



Aniij Life- at Camp Parapet. 269 

April \2, Sunday. F<>i;;uy morning; slight sprinkle of 
rain in the afternoon, when it came up very dark for an hour 
or so ; otherwise ver}- pleasant and warm. Colonels King- 
man and Blair both still sick, but reported gaining slowly. 
Usual Sunday inspections. Lot of Company E boys go 
blackberrying. Luther Stevens and George G. Sanborn, oi 
Company K, visit the sick in the Carrollton hospital. A. C. 
Haines on guard at General Dow's headquarters. Company 
E had baked beans for breakfast, ham for dinner, and apple 
sauce and bread for supper ; in Company A hoe cake, brown 
bread, and baked beans in the morning. At inspection 
everything is found in fine shape, and the boys feel tip-top. 
Lieutenant Perkins and others gone up the railroad through 
the parapet for cane brake. Half of Company A gone 
plumming — strawberries and blackberries very large and 

sick ; he is better now. He is in command of tlie Reggiment now, for 
tlie Colonol and the Lieut. Colonol ar l>oath sick, and have l^een for a 
week or more. J. C. Blake and Levi Blake are boath down to New- 
Orleans to work. Levi is clerk for Lieut. Hanks, and Jack is bossing 
negers, and likes it tirst rate : he ses he gut this book for me. It was a 
Rebel Book wonce, but it is not now, and i think it never will be again. 
Burt Bussell has gut something in his eye, and it is as hot as the deveil 
hear to day, but there is a good breeze, and it is good weather, bright 
and pleasant. 

•• I have just herd that thare has been a fight over the river with the 
rel)els and a negero regiment, and thay say the negers licked the Rebels, 
a camp story, I serpose. Augustous Merrill return to the company the 
8th of April. The boys ar a running around bair footed hear. 

•• There are thirty six cannon on the Parapet, big and little, at the 
present time, and a negro company takes charge of a part of them, and 
thay handle them first rate. One of them shot at a target the other day 
a mile, and the fift shot he hit the bull eye in the sentre, and the gim 
boat that lays in the river shot a shell at a mark, and the shell burst in 
the air, and one of the pieces went a \ of a mile and hit a man in a New 
York Regiment that was in his tent, and the man died in a few hours, and 
the Commander of the gun Ijoat paid for sending him home, which cost 
him one hundred and twentv five dollars."' 



270 The Fifteenth Xe7c Hampshire ]'olunteers. 

plentiful ; rest are writing letters. Lieutenant Cogswell and 
several officers have gone over the rixer. Lieutenant Page, 
of Compan)- B, l:)rcakfastecl with the Company A officers. 

April 13, Monda}-. I'oggy and hot morning; no air 
stirring. Company A's morning report shows four in hos- 
pital and thirteen sick in quarters. Sergt. Fernando Parker 
sick ; Lieutenant Perkins on extra guard ; Major Aldrich in 
command. Splendid brigade chill, which jnit General Low 
in such good humor that he made a speech on discipline at 
its close, which was very witt)' ; he was highl}- gratified with 
their good a]5pcarance and beha\ior and the improxement 
they had made. If the weather continued hue, in a little 
while it would be the best brigade in the department. He 
related in h.is humorous way how this morning he caught a 
sentinel sitting down on his beat, with his gun on the ground 
two or three rods away. The general came close u}) to him 
unawares, when he sprang for his gun ; the general ga\e 
him a talking to, and warned him not to be caught that wax- 
again. The old general is firm, but at the same time one of 
the most genial of men, and is greatly liked by all. Com- 
pany A drilled as skirmishers in the afternoon and Comj^an}" 
K in sc|uads under .Sergeants Davis, (lordon, Stexens. and 
Carew. y\]l were out as usual in the afternoon on comixuiv 
drill. When drill was ox'cr, su])]X'r was read}' of Hapjacks 
and blackberry sauce. Major .Aldrich went to New Orleans 
in the afternoon, and returned at 10 o'clock at night. ( )f 
course ex'er)- dax' begins with rexeille ami roll-call, and ends 
with retreat or dress j^arade at sunset and tattoo and taps. 
The full order of exercises is alwaxs carried out, excej^t on 
some extraordinary occasion. 

April 14. iuesdaw \'ei'\- showerx' in the morning; 
pleasant and cool ; wind west ; gi-eat blow at night. Csual 
order carried out. Major .Aldrich in conuuand. Pattalion 
(li-ill in the forenoon ; com])any and sc|uad drills in the 



Ar7;n' Life at Camp Parapet. 271 

afternoon. Major Aldrich attended a social mectini; of 
Masons of the Fifteenth New Hampshire, One Hundred and 
Twenty-eighth New York, and Twenty-sixth Connecticut out 
front of the parapet. A. C. Haines carries the supper to the 
guards. Companies A and G go for cane poles, both in the 
forenoon and afternoon ; saw sla\'es plowing and [:ilanting. 
Company E had a great feast at supper time — hot biscuit, 
butter, and apple sauce. Mail steamer "Marion" twelve 
days overdue, and great fear she is lost. Colonel Kingman 
reported gaining, but Lieutenant-colonel Blair is very sick, 
and was taken worse this afternoon. Lieutenant Pickering 
and others visit a plantation where sugar cane is growing. 
Corn is a foot high, and potatoes most ready to dig. Li the 
evening h^a A. Hill was afraid his tent would blow down. 

April 15, Wednesday. Very pleasant and comfortable. 
Splendid brigade drill under General Dow, at which fired 
blank cartridges ; company drill omitted this afternoon. 
Rumored that the Si.xteenth New Hampshire met the enemy 
at Berwick Bay, and lost two hundred. Lieutenant Pickering 
receives a letter from home with a cud of gum in it. Many 
off all the afternoon getting canes to coxer in the whole 
camp. Augustus Merrill is out playing with the "niggers," 
seeing which can throw a cannon ball the farthest. A man 
attempting to run the guard was shot through the bod}', and 
died in ten minutes. He proved to be a citizen, and had 
apparently been fishing. On being challenged b)' the guard, he 
paid no heed. The method of challenge by the guard at the 
picket line was this : " Who goes there } Halt — halt — halt ! " 
If at the third call the challenged party does not come to a stand 
and account for himself, then the guard is to fire. None can 
cross the line in the daytime without a written pass or in the 
night without the countersign. If the challenged part)- is all 
right, he will present his pass or reply to the guard, " Friend 
with the countersign," to which the guard replies, "Advance, 



2/2 Tlw Fifteenth Xcx^' Hainpshiic Voiimttrrs. 

friend, and ,L;i\'c the coinitersi^n " ; whereupon the ehallenged 
]:)art\' will ai)i)r()ach the ^uard within a eertain prescribed 
distance, and i;i\-e the countersii^n in a whisper ox'er the 
i;iiard's gun, held in such a manner as to be ready for instant 
use in case of treacherw The victim in this instance may have 
been one who was tired of life, and took this method of suicide. 
The countersiL;n is a word iixed upon at headquarters and "iven 
to the guard, and is changed each day. It is generally the 
name of some distinguished military or na\"al hero or of some 
historic battle, as for instance, Hannibal, Trafalgar, or Halak- 
la\a. An}'one going outside of the lines must be proxided 
with the word, and give it, on being challenged, in the 
l^-escribed manner, or he cannot enter without being arrested 
and held by the guard. The guard line is thrown out round 
the army, inclosing a large tract. It is divided into beats of 
si.x or eight rods each, which are marked by small stakes. 
A guard is placed on each of these beats, and he sees to it 
that no one passes either in or out over his particular beat 
without properly accounting for himself. The guards con- 
stantl)- i)ace these beats from end to end, and should all 
make the turn at the same instant ; the beats are numl)ei-ed. 
In case of an arrest or any other matter rec|uiring it, the 
guard will call for the officer in this manner : " ( )fficer of the 
guard, Xo. lO," or \vhate\"er the number of his beat ma_\- be ; 
this c-all will be passed down the line from guard to guard 
until it reaches tfiC ear of the officer, who will immediateh' 
l^resent himself. The guard is dixided into three reliefs, so 
that each stands 011 guard two hours and is off four. lie 
must not fall asL'ep on his beat — the penalt\- is death. In 
case of hard service and after fatiguing marches or battles, 
the hours are sometimes greatly increased, so that it is well 
nigh im])ossible for the guard to remain awake. 

i-'urther particulars show tliat the cili/en who was shot 
imdertook to ])ass, anil when halted, saiil he was accustometl 
to go outside at an\- time. lie was re(|uested to wait till the 



Aniiv Life at Camp Parapet. 273 

officer of the guard arrived, but he, while seeming to 
acquiesce, sprang for the guard's gun, and after a furious 
attack, in which he used a knife, made a dash to escape, 
when a cavalryman, halting him five times, drew his revolver, 
and fired just as he was crossing a ditch. The first shot 
missed, but at the second he cried out, " ()h, oh ! " twice, and 
fell in the ditch. He then crawled up on the bank, and 
exclaimed, "Oh friends," and expired. He was a stout-built 
man, and prox'cd to have a wife in New Orleans, who came 
up and identified the body ; she said that he was subject to 
spells of insanity. 

April 16, Thursday. A very bright day ; cold last night 
and this morning till 10 o'clock, when it became hot, and 
grew cold again toward night. One of a negro regiment was 
shot last night for running the guard. Sergeant Trickey, of 
Company I, sat up last night with John E. Garland and 
Gideon Carter. Carter died this morning at 5.14 o'clock 
and Garland died at noon, both of Company L Both 
were excellent soldiers. Company voted to send their bodies 
home ; Carter's was sent to-day. Colonel Kingman is still 
sick and unable to do duty ; Lieutenant-colonel Blair is still 
very sick, and the surgeon thinks it doubtful if he can 
recover. Very many of the line officers are also sick, and of 
the thirty only eight were out to-day on parade or drill, and 
not a captain amongst them. Great rejoicing over the false 
news that Charleston is fallen. 

April 17, Friday. Very warm and pleasant. Brigade and 
company drills. Major Aldrich went to New Orleans in the 
afternoon. Fernando Parker recovers and returns to duty. 
Eight citizens arrested by the picket and held in the guard 
house for cutting a hole in the levee, as was supposed, to 
flood our camp ; but they showed that the provost marshal 
permitted them to do it, and that it was customary in the dry 



274 ■^^^^' FiftccutJi Xcio HaiupsJiirc 1 'oluntccrs. 

season to irrigate their plantations in that way, and were 
released by General Dow. Great news from Berwick Bay 
and general rejoicing in camp ; cnem)''s forces there com- 
pletely destroyed or captuicd. The drill to-da}', especially 
the brigade drill, was \'ery severe, and with the intense heat 
of the sun completely exhausted the men ; after breaking- 
ranks the shaded streets of their camj:) were a grateful and 
pleasant retreat. Dress i^arade was omitted, probably because 
of the hard day's work. 

April 1 8, Saturday. Very warm and pleasant. I'sual 
order of exercises for the day. Major Aldrich in command. 
Colonels Kingman and Hlair still sick. Bo)s were o\er a 
week covering the camp with cane poles. A. C. Haines on 
guard at General Dow's headquarters. Captain Johnson and 
Lieutenant Durgin visit New Orleans. John V. Hussey 
sick. Morrill Weeks (Noah M.) came near being shot by 
the guard ; he was going for blackberries and was halted, 
but thinking was someone else \\ho was being halted, he 
ke]~)t on, and was hred at, the ball whistling close b)' his ears. 
The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New ^'()rk left for 
an excursion across the lakes. Our regiment was desig- 
nated for this excursion, but the One Hundred and Twenty- 
eighth was sent instead because so many of our officers 
were sick. This drew from (leneral Sherman the remark 
that that Fifteenth New Hami:)shire was the damnedest regi- 
ment for sick officers he ever saw. 

Ai)ril 19, Sunday. \'ery shower}- till noon and quite 
warm. Inspection omitted, ^^»ur months since the "James 
S. (ireen " reached Carrolllon. There are measles in the 
hospital. Hear of the great success of (ieneral Hanks at 
Opelonsas and X'ermilhon J^a}'ou. 

Ai)ril 20, Monday. Very warm and pleasant, with good 
breeze. Special guard captured two rebel prisoners antl put 
them in the guard house. " ( )riole " arrixecl with jiaNmaster 



Anjiv Life at Camp Parapet. 275 

and two millions of greenbacks. The Z()ua\'es have gone to 
New Orleans. Company K receixed orders to move to 
Carrollton for provost duty. No drill on account of mud. 
Mail steamer " Continental " arrived. We relieved the 
Zouave guard. All the saddles of the country are being- 
seized by the army. An old planter and wife came to camp 
to secure a runaway slave of theirs, who was acting as a 
servant for Compan}' H ; but the "colored gentleman" saw 
them in season and escaped, when they went away in high 
dudgeon. 

April 21, Tuesday. Warm and i)leasant. Numerous berry 
parties are passed out, both soldiers and citizens ; many poor 
people from the city go for blackberries. The brigade was 
all in line ready for drill when General Dow dismissed them 
on account of the mud. The Tw^enty-sixth Connecticut 
mo\-ed down to the Zouaxes' old camp ground ; this lea\-es 
us now alone. Company K left Camp Parapet at 7.30 
o'clock for })ro\'ost duty at Carrollton, exchanging- places 
with Company C. Companies B and C both return to the 
regiment from Carrollton. Company K camped 01-1 Market 
square, near Levee street, which is the principal street of 
Carrollton. Company drills in afternoon. 

April 22, Wednesday. Very warm and pleasant ; \ery 
heavy thunder shower at night. The One Hundred and 
Twenty-eighth New York returns from its excursion across 
the lakes. It was a raid on the enemy, which was very 
successful, capturing- and destroying large amounts of Con- 
federate property. (General l^ai-iks is freeing all the southern 
and western parts of the state of enemies, preparatorv to a 
great movement, in conjunction with General Grant, for 
opening the Mississippi. Dexter E. Butman, of Company C, 
died ; body sent to Enfield for burial. Lieutenant-colonel 
Blair's commission arrixed and also that of Major Aldrich. 
The band striking up "Hail Colun-ibia" in the New Orleans 



276 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire W^littiteers. 

theatre, the hostile element rose in riot, and declared it 
should not be played. There being- some Union ofificers 
there, one of them rose and calmly announced that it would 
be played or nothing should be ; and the rioters, who had 
become very turbulent, presently discovered that discretion 
was the better part of \alor, and subsided. 

April 23, Thursday. Ver}' hot, hazy morning and wet. 
No drill on account of mud. Major Aldrich appeared on 
parade in major's uniform. The cane shades left by the 
Twenty-sixth Connecticut are being appropriated by our 
boys. Much talk about the riot in the theatre last night ; 
the general sent orders in for the band to play " Mail 
Columbia," '* Yankee Doodle," and the " Star Spangled 
Banner " before they left the hall, but it appears that the 
audience was all broken up and dispersed before the order 
arrived. Grand Union ball announced to take place in New 
Orleans to-morrow night. 

Note. A soldier's letter : 

"CAAn- P.XKAi'ET, La., April 23, 1863. 
Dear Mother : 

1 received your letter dated March 1 last night. About three weeks ago 
I went down to New Orleans: while I was gone a mail was hrought in. 
among which was this letter for me, and it has been lying on the orderl\"s 
shelf ever since, where it was accidentally discovered. 

"There has nothing worthy of notice taken place in this regiment since 
mv last letter. We are still in the same place, with no sign of moving 
till we leave for home. Our mode of living is the same, except that we are 
constantly improving our houses and bettering our conditions generally, 
as we learn to economize matters and accommodate ourselves to the 
circumstances. The last improvement in my tent was made dav before 
yesterday, by raising it up about two feet and sewing shelter tents round 
the bottom, thus making it nearly twice as roomy and capable of con- 
taining, besides its occupants, some rude furniture to sit t)n and a table, 
which I am writing at and which I made from lumber brought nearly a 
mile on my back. Things are beginning to look \ery much like house- 
keeping. If you were here you would see, as y(,)u entered, on the 



An/iv Life at Camp Parapet. 277 

April 24, Friday. Very hot, clear day. These are the 
bright days that bring forth the adder ; spotted king snakes 
and moccasins are plenty. (3rdered to prepare to nioxe at 
a moment's notice, with two days' rations ; all h()])e the 
order will not be countermanded. Brigade drill and usual 
daily programme. Company F marches to Carrollton to do 
provost duty. The brigade drill was very hard and the day 

right the table bestrewed with writing materials, on the left two hard-tack 
boxes placed one top of the other; this serves as a cupboard, and is 
filled with tinware, bottles, papers, and books, among which 1 would 
mention Hugh Miller's 'Testimony of the Rocks' and four volumes of 
Macauley's 'History of England." Over this cupboard a little looking- 
glass is suspended by means of a bent pin. Overhead a pole extends 
across, on which are hung our coats. At the back side of the tent on the 
floor the knapsacks lay across in a row, and serve for pillows at night. 
Over these five rifles are stood upon a shelf, on each of which is hung tlie 
owner's accoutrements. Above this, on another shelf, two large bottles 
of blackberry wine are working ' right smart ' in view of coming seasickness. 

" In regard to going home, if they do keep us a few days after the time 
is out, I shan't grumble. 

•• As for fighting our way uj) the river, the thing is nearly completed 
already. After the fleet run the batteries at Port Hudson, Banks 
returned with his army to New Orleans, and from there, when the enemy 
were all in the dark, precipitated it upon them at Berwick Bay, and 
obtained a complete victor}-. It was there the ' Queen of the West' was 
destroyed, with nine other vessels. P^rom here there is communication 
with Red River near its mouth 1)\- means of bayous and streams, which 
you can find laid down on most anv map. And thus, if the river itself 
is not open, there is communication clear through, and the rebellion 
divided into two parts. Banks will probably now operate between Port 
Hudson and \^icksburg. 

" News is very scarce, and I have filled this sheet with most anything, 
but it will have to do. Those two stamps arrived safe, and also Delia's 
note, which I will answer soon. M. N. Holmes is well: William F. 
Holmes is getting along finely. The rest are all well also. Ciive my 
repects to all the folks. 

Your son, 

Chas. McCiKecor.'" 



2/S The I'iftcciith Xc\^< Hauipsliiir I 'oliuitccrs. 

very hot ; all sweat like mowers in the ha^■-Helcl. Alter 
dismissal they enjoy the refreshing shade of the camp. 
Major Aldrich, Captain Cogswell, Lieutenant Durgin, and 
others of our ofificers attend the grand Union military ball at 
the St. Charles hotel in New Orleans. It is held on the 
anniversary of Commodore I'^arragut's passage (jf the forts 
down the ri\'er. 

April 25, Saturday. Wry hot and bright. Stephen 
Milton returned to Company D. No drill on account of 
marching orders. Order to move did not come. Lieutenant 
Parker returned to duty. The " Portsmouth " left her 
moorings to-day, and passed down the river ; she had laid 
here a year, and her anchor had sunk into the river bottom 
so that her cables parted without raising it. llie sun is 
blazing hot ; Lieutenant Pickering sa}-s in his diary that lie 
thinks she has got a new fireman. 

April 26, Sunday. Not very hot ; still and cloud}'. Cap- 
tain ( )sgood came up from New Orleans, where he has been 
sick for some time. Trickey sergeant of the picket guard ; 
Corporal Rewitzer with him. Mosquitoes bit terribly ; night 
was very warm. Sergeant Stevens, of C()mi)any K, with 
eight men, went down river two miles and a half to load a 
steamer with contrabands. 

\<)TK. A Soulier's letter: 

•• C.VRROLLTON, La., April 26, 1863. 
Dear Laura : 

1 received vour letter i)t" the twelfth to-day, and now sit down to answer 
it. We have moved since I last wrote, down to Carrollton, two companies 
ot'us. K and F: the rest are up to the para|)et. We are encanii)ed in the 
centre of the cit\- and Init a tew steps from tlie deixit. .Arth. (Color-sergeant 
Merrick) stopped with the rest of the regiment, hut he is down here to-day. 
We are all well. We i^uard the bakery, toundr\, and iiuartermaster's 
stores and the river, ])icket, and patrol guard. We do not drill any since 
we came down here. 1 have been on corporal of the patrol i^uard ever 
since we came here. I do not have anythini; to tlo only iVom i; till 12 at 
night; then I have to take a scjuad of men, and go all over the city to 



Anny Life at Camp Parapet. 279 

April 27, Monday. Cooler and somewhat cloudy, with 
south wand ; showers at night. Brigade drill ; usual pro- 
gramme. Guard terribly tormented by mosquitoes. 

April 28, Tuesday. Very pleasant, with good breeze and 
thunder showers in the afternoon. Lieutenant Durgin and 
others went gunning, fishing, and blackberrying ; shot three 
alligators. Caught garfish in the river. The river is turbid 
and opaque on account of the soil which it is sweeping on to 
the ocean, and flows about three miles per hour. All its fish 
have a pale white color on account of living in the shade ; 

see if everything is all right. We have to stay round camp all day to be 
ready to go out if there is any disturbance. I took a squad of men last 
night and went down to (h-eenville, and arrested some niggers, took them 
up to the parapet, and put them on board a steamer. Part of the com- 
pany went down to an old lirickvard this morning, and surrounded a lot 
of niggers, and put them on a boat. They send them up river to work 
on plantations ; they are so lazy that they won't do anything here, and 
will steal everything that they get hold of. They have to drive them to 
the boat at the point of the bayonet ; when they see you coming tlie_\- nm 
like a flock of sheep, but draw your gim up to your shoulder and tell 
them to halt, and they will stop as quick as if they were shot. They are 
as afraid of a soldier as they are of the devil ; one will drive a hundred of 
them. But I guess I have written enough about niggers this time, and I 
will take a little lighter subject. George Durant got here a da}- or two 
ago, but I have not seen him yet. Arth. says that he is as fat as a hog. 
I guess that they will not do anything with him. You wrote that you 
wanted to know what we had to eat. We live well, better than I 
expected; we have soft bread, baked beans, fresh beef and salt beet, 
pork, potatoes, brown bread, ham, doughnuts, hasty pudding, tea, coffee, 
sugar, molasses, hominy, rice, and other things that I do not remember 
now. We have enough to eat, and it is good enough. The cars mn 
from here to New Orleans and back every half hour, Sundays not 
excepted ; they do as much business here on that day as any. I don't 
know as I can write any more to-day. I shall be at home before a great 
while to tell all about it. Give my love to mother. Write soon as you 
get this. 

From your husband, 

A. H. Davis." (Corporal Company K.) 



28o The fifteenth Xcw Hampshire I'oliniteers. 

the i;arfish is \-cn' smart and sharky, and two to three 
feet in leni^th. Major Althicli went lo New Orleans to be 
mustered as major. Splendid battalion drill to-da\'. Lieu- 
tenant Pickering says that Company A now has not a man 
in hospital. " Our company," he says, " is in good health now, 
and I wash we could have a chance to do something, for the 
men are all in good condition." A. P. W'adleigh, of Company 
A, left the cook house, and A. C. Badger was voted into his 
place. 

April 29, W'ednesda}'. \'ery pleasant and cool, with good 
breeze. Brigade drill and usual routine. Major Aldrich 
mounted at parade. Captain Cogswell and Ira A. Hill mak- 
ing out the pay-rolls. A. F. Young sent to hospital. Ira A. 
Hill appointed acting sergeant-major. 

April 30, Thursday. Cool and cloudy, with a good breeze ; 
came off glorious in the e\ening ; splendid moonlight. 
National fast day and all drill omitted. All citizens now 
must take the oath of allegiance ov leave the Union lines. 
Lieutenant Hendley appointed acting regimental quarter- 
master and Quartermaster Moody brigade quartermaster. 
William X. Ste\ens died at Hano\er, X. II. Luther 
Stex'cns, sergeant of guard in Carrollton, took ele\en pris- 
oners at night, among them four secessionists for cheering 
for Southern Confederac)'. 

Thus ends the month. It has been a \er\- hue one. It is 
early summer here. The ri\-er is brimfull to the top of the 
levee, and the scenery across is like a perfect jiaradise — 
glimpses of houses in the midst of groxes of magnolia and 
orange and embowered in oleander and other flowering shrubs. 
The broad Ijosoni of the ri\er is bus_\- with shi]iping, and is 
amjile to float all the na\-ies of the world. All the land 
fairly teems with luxuriance. Hut thou<;h the weather ami 
surroundings are all so heautil'ul. c-limatic influences and the 
new mode of life ha\e a deleterious effect on the health of 
many. 



Aiiny Life at Camp Parapet. 281 

The following shows the Company D sick for April : 
Lieutenant Chadwick was on the sick list, from and 
including the third, up to and including the twelfth. Of 
privates and non-commissioned officers there were on the sick 
list on the first, 22 ; on the second, 17 ; on the third, 8 ; 
on the fourth, 19; on the fifth, 18; on the sixth and 
seventh, 19 ; on the eighth, 18 ; on the ninth and tenth, 22 ; 
on the eleventh and twelfth, 20 ; on the thirteenth, 18 ; on 
the fourteenth, 20 ; on the fifteenth, 19 ; on the sixteenth, 
23 ; on the se\'enteenth, 19 ; on the eighteenth, 18 ; on the 
nineteenth, 19 ; on the twentieth, 17 ; on the twenty-first, 
19 ; on the twenty-second and twenty-third, 20 ; on the 
twenty-fourth, 18 ; on the twenty-fifth, 17 ; on the twenty- 
sixth and twenty-seventh, 1 5 ; on the twenty-eighth and 
twenty-ninth, 14; and on the thirtieth, 12. 



ipany A, 


morning 


report April 


30 


. 58 


priv 


ates for 


■ duty 


B, 




" 




43 








c. 




" 




47 








D, 




" 




51 








E, 




" 




52 








G, 




" 




50 








H, 




" 




45 








I, 




" 




51 









Companies I^' and K on provost duty at Carrollton. 



282 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire I 'olunteevs. 

Tin-: Sick i-or Ai'ril. 



Date. 


Officers. 


Non-commis- 
sioned officers. 


Privates. 


Totals. 


April . 


1 1 


26 


82 


119 


2 


1 1 


-I 


97 


^ll> 


3 


10 


-5 


97 


•32 


4 


10 


24 


89 


'23 


5 


II 


28 


82 


121 


6 


1 1 


28 


82 


I 21 


7 


II 


29 


89 


129 


8 


13 


30 


84 


127 


9 


13 


27 


95 


•35 


lO 


13 


28 


99 


140 


1 1 


12 


27 


97 


.36 


12 


12 


27 


102 


•41 


13 


13 


26 


97 


•36 


14 


13 


29 


107 


149 


15 


13 


27 


99 


•39 


16 


13 


28 


105 


146 


•7 


12 


22 


99 


^r:> 


18 


13 


21 


102 


,36 


'9 


14 


25 


lOI 


140 


20 


•3 


25 


97 


•35 


21 


13 


26 


99 


•3S 


22 


15 


27 


128 


170 


23 


16 


29 


i'5 


160 


24 


16 


29 


121 


166 


25 


14 


24 


116 


'54 


26 


13 


20 


no 


•43 


27 


1 1 


21 


lOI 


'33 


28 


1 1 


21 


105 


^n 


29 


1 1 


'9 


102 


• 32 


30 


12 


20 


95 


127 



Anny Life ^^f Camp raraf-ct. 283 

Daily In'ci dents am) Events for May, l'p to the 
Twentieth Instant. 

May I, Friday. Warm and very pleasant ; good breeze 
blowing. General regimental monthly muster and inspection, 
which took up nearly the whole day ; inspected by Major 
Aldrich, who is in command. Line formed at 7.30 a. m. ; 
reviewed by Colonel Kingman at 4 p. m. Captain J(jhnson 
brigade officer of the day. The boys are feeling well, and 
are full of rollicking good humor. Company A has the least 
sick and the fullest numbers on parade of any company in 
the regiment. General Dow stops all peddling in camp 
because liquors were thus stealthily introduced to the soldiers, 
whereby some became intoxicated ; this cuts off the milk 
supply and newspapers. George R. Wildes and Sidney C. 
Hill appointed markers for the regiment. Corp. J. C. Blake 
visited camp from New Orleans, riding up in a covered 
carriage and mule hitch, with a negro driver ; after an hour's 
stay Captain Cogswell, Lieutenant Pickering, and John P. 
Hussey rode with him to Carrollton. On the way back, at 8 
o'clock in the evening, the mosquitoes nearly de\'oured Cogs- 
well and Pickering, but Mussey went with Blake to New 
Orleans. While at Carrollton they called on Captain Hall, 
who related that last night his patrol seized four men in a 
carriage, who were hurrahing for Jeff Davis and singing 
" sesech songs," and jailed them, and put their horse up at 
the tavern ; they will appear before Captain l^la, who sits 
in judgment here. There is a good deal of fiddling and 
singing going on in camp in the evening, and a battery 
down to the race course, a mile and a half from our camp, 
is firing its guns. 

May 2, Saturday. Very pleasant in the morning ; partially 
cloudy in the afternoon. Hard battalion drill ; it was hot 
work. To-day the guard was extended around the band, 



284 The luftc-ciit/i Xfic HampsJiirc W^liintccrs. 

the\' haxini; pla}'ccl at a i;arden party last Sunda\' excnini;- in 
Carrollton where festivities became excessixe. 

May 3, Sunday. Very warm morning ; cloud}- before 
noon ; extremely hot all day. Roast beef and baked beans 
and coffee and doughnuts. Many go swimming in the 
Mississippi. Lieutenant Perkins indisposed. Some Com- 
pany I boys go bee hunting, and bring back fifty pounds 
of honey. Sergt. Luther Stevens, of Company K, with a 
party, visits the public gardens. Sergeant Wallace, of Com- 
pany I, who has been sick, returns to duty. Captain Osgood, 
Sergeant Brown, and others walked up the rixcr on the levee 
to the outpost. Singing in Comj^any 1 in tlie evening. 
Lieutenant Hendley very sick again with pleuris)- in the side. 
Mail steamer arrives. Ansel F. Young ver\' sick. The 
boys find endless amusement these days watching tlie negroes 
drill and attending their dances and religious meetings and 
weddings. 

NoTK. A .soldier's leUcr (Corporal McGregor) : 

"Ca.mp Parapet, La.. .Mav 5. 1863. 
Dear Mother : 

I have just received your letter of A|)ril 19, and have seated my.self to 
rejjly. I am soiry to see bv vour letter that vou worry so much about 
me, though this is nothing more than I e\i)ected when I let't : but I did 
not e.x'pect then to be in so sate a place as I am in now. I am in the 
best of health, a hundred miles from the eni'm\-. and have never seen a rebel 
soldier nor heard a rebel gun. The R'giment is doing garrison duty, and 
there is no prospect of e\er nio\ing till it moves for home. 1 ha\'e got 
tired of lying here, and often wish that we might cross the lake as the 
New \'()rk regiment has once done, and have a little excitement : Init 
then we never shall, so we must ])ass the time as best we can. I and 
another fellow have just got back from a jjleasure expedition across the 
river. It is now near sunset. The d.iy has been very pleasant, and we 
had a fnie tiij). 

"The cam|) is in high s])irits this day. Uanks has been entirely 
.succe.s.sful in his o|)erations on the other side of the river, and the news is 
just coming in. lie ga\e the rebels a thorough cleaning out. and it is 
now su])])osed that his arm\' is on ]\l'<.\ Ki\er. On the day youi' letter 



An/iv Life at Camp Parapet. 285 

May 4, Monday. Extremely hot da}'. Brigade drill at 7 
o'clock this morning. Receive the news of the great Grierson 
cavalry raid, down from the North, through Mississippi to our 
lines. Greatest cavalry feat ever performed ; great rejoicing. 
Lieutenant Pickering received his commission by mail from 
the North. Lieutenant Perkins very weak. Singing in 
camp in the evening. 

May 5, Tuesday. Cloudy and more comfortable, with 
light rain in the forenoon. Battalion drill ; General Dow 
dismissed us early from drill on account of the rain. Parker, 
Company E, lieutenant of the guard. Lieutenants Hend- 
ley and Perkins both very sick. Captain Cogswell goes to 
New Orleans to be mustered out as lieutenant and in as 
captain. 

was written he issued an address to liis army, stating tliat thev had 
marched 300 miles in twenty days, fought four battles, captured 2,000 
prisoners, destroyed a strong naval force collected by the enemy at Ber- 
wick Bay, and among them the "Queen of the West," and scattered the 
rebels so that they cannot again reorganize. By this movement tliev are 
cut otf' from the resources of Texas and from tlieir salt worI<s in tlie 
southern part of this state. Besides tliis a body of cavalry have come 
clear through from General Grant's army on the Mississippi side, and 
broken up the rebel communications with the east, and destroyed what 
militar\- stores they could come at. Three thousand shells were blown up 
at one place. They brought in 300 negroes, each riding one horse and 
leading another. Such is the news, and it is galling to lie here when tlie 
rest are off having such glorious times. I think the situation now looks 
very encouraging. But I must come to a close. Aly eyes are about the 
same. When I get paid oft" I intend to send _\-ou a photograph, then 
Emma can see how I look ; and then, too, I will get some better paper, but 
I thought I would use this rather than run in debt, for I am all out of 
money and have been for a long time. I received a letter from Uncle 
William and two papers from father. Again I assure vou there is no 
cause for alarm, not quite so much as I wish there was. I should like to 
see a little of war before I come home. 

From your son, 

Chakles." 



286 The Fifteenth Xeiv Ilavipshire ]'o/initeers. 

May 6, Wcclnesch)-. Most Ixaiitiful da}' ; clear, bright, 
antl dclicioush' cool in cam]), with brisk north wind ; chist 
and sand blow outside on the roads. Brigade drill at 7 
o'clock. Paid off for January and February. Lieutenant 
Durgin went to New Orleans, and drew the money for the 
compan)' sa\ings. l^and went to Jefferson serenading. 
Trickey, Orme, Home}-, and Colony, of Company I, \isited 
New Orleans, and saw the great raider. Colonel (jrierson. 
At brigade drill to-day and for the future the regiment forms 
as follows : right, Companies G, B, A, I, IC, II, C, 1). At 
dress parade the old order will be obser\ed as the com])anies 
are encamped. Lieutenant Hendley very sick ; goes to 
Carrollton to a private house to be cared for. Captain 
Cogswell goes to bed earl\- with sick headache. 

May 7, lliursda)'. Weather delightful as yesterday ; wind 
north and stronger ; cool morning. Soldiers appeared in 
overcoats. Parade, battalion drill, ami usual routine. Cap- 
tain Cogsw^ell brigade officer of the daw Captain Johnson 
and his compan}- take ])osition on the left of the companies 
at battalion tlrill. Lieutenant Perkins recoxered. Corporal 
Bullock goes with tlie band to Jefferson Cit}' to serenade, 
and met there Joseph W'hitcomb, who was on the " Missis- 
sippi " when she was abondoned and fired. Ti-ickc}' sergeant 
of the guard. Bo}s all in high spirits. ()ur camp is delight- 
ful. The compan)- streets are all i-oofed with canes and 
also the long regimental front, with seats beneath ; the 
grounds are scrupuloush- clean. There are i-nan\- unic|ue 
features, especially about the officers' tents ; some haxe 
raised beds of flowers. Lieutenant Perkins lias a pair of 
\-oung- mocking birds in his tent. .Some liaxe tame crows, 
and one has a \-oung mink. .Surgeon iiorsch has an alligator 
tietl to a stake in a little pool of water. 

Ma)' <S, h'rida). W'cathei- same as \esterda\-. Brigade 
drill for two and three ciuartei's hours. ( )rders receixcd 



Anny Life at Camp Parapet. 287 

for the whole division to march to New Orleans, and jiass in 
review before General Sherman. Acting Second Lieutenant 
Pickering, of Company A, goes to New Orleans, and is dis- 
charged as first sergeant in order to accept promotion. 
Albert Chamberlain, of Company C, dies. 

May 9, Saturday. Clear, bright, and very warm. The 
grand feature of this day was the march of Sherman's army 
to New Orleans. One object of this may have been to show 
the Union strength and overawe the rebellious element of 
the great city, now soon to be left unprotected by the with- 
drawal of the troops to active service up the river. I1ie 
secessionist had at times been somewhat demonstrative, and 
sedition and insurrection attempted. Our brigade formed at 
7 o'clock near the old camp ground at Carrollton, two miles 
away on the shell road. Our regiment moved at daylight, 
marching on the levee to Carrollton, Companies K and F 
joining us there. General Dow, surrounded by his staff, 
took command at that point ; all in full, hea\y marching- 
order. It was the most magnificent pageant in which the 
Fifteenth Regiment had e\er participated. Cokjrs were 
flying and bands playing. The boys were permitted to sing- 
along the route, and "Marching Along" and "Old John 
Brown" and many others were rendered with great effect. 
The march was along the famous shell road. On entering 
the city, the strictest discipline is enforced, and the marching 
was perfect and the scene inspiriting, llie streets were 
thronged with gaily dressed people, mostly ladies. The 
march was continued through the principal streets ; were 
received with cheers in many places. The great city was 
clean as a lady's parlor. Our bands played "Yankee 
Doodle " and all the national airs. General Sherman 
reviewed the army from his headquarters ; all officers salute 
in passing, and the flags are dipped. The old general 
seemed greatly pleased, and praised the troops highly. It 



288 The Fifteenth Xei<' Hampshire I'olniiteers. 

was a march of twenty miles. The maiii body of our regi- 
ment reached camp on its return at about i o'clock, but 
many gave out toward the last, and straggled in till dark. 
In the middle of the day the heat was intense. John (iross, 
of Company \\ and (ieorge F. Bowers, of Company H, died. 

May lo. Sunday. Wmt warm and pleasant. I'sual .Sun- 
day comi:)an)' insi)ections. Major Aldrich crossed the ri\er, 
and spent six hours visiting plantations and points of interest. 
General cropping of hair and shaving in camp. Fatigue 
duty has become very hard ; much work filling and digging 
ditches and levelling the parade ground. The guard duty 
also is much increased, there being regimental and brigade 
lines to maintain, besides much special guard duty and strong 
picket outpo.sts. Captain Cogswell sick and carried to Car- 
rollton, where Lieutenant Hendley is. Ezekiel (iilman is 
there taking care of them. 

May II, Monda}'. \"ery warm and pleasant. Usual 
routine. Major Aldrich visits New ( )r]eaus. Lieutenant 
Pickering x'isited Captain C\)gswell and Lieutenant Hendley 
at Carrollton ; the}- were better. Lieutenant Hendley 
engaged a team and went with Lieutenant Pickering to the 
great city. The ( )ne Hundred and Twent\-eighth New 
York left to-day ; our regiment doing all the guard duty. 
Henry \V. l-5enton, of Company B, died. 

Ma}- 12, Tuesday. .Sun \er}- hot, but good breeze; alter- 
nate cloud and sunshine. Major Aldrich ill and excused 
from duty. The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New 
York took cars for Manchac Pass by way of the Jackson 
Railroad. Pickering, of Com]x\n\' .A, mustered at New 
Orleans as second lieutenant, (irand excuision of orphan 
children from the city to Camp Parai)et and the rixer. 
Hear that Hooker won a great " \ictor}' " at I'Tedericksburg ; 
rebel loss reported at iS,ooo. Lieutenant Wood receives 
orders to do jirox-ost dut}' at Cretna. 



Annv Life at Camp Parapet. 289 

May 13, Wednesday. Very warm ; looks like lain. Gen- 
eral Dow dismissed the brigade at drill because of the 
excessive heat ; said there was something in the atmosphere 
that prevented all business. Captain Johnson and Lieutenant 
Durgin visit New Orleans. Major Aldrich and Lieutenant 
Pickering procure a team and go for a drive up river several 

NOTK. 

" Provost Marshal's Office, 

Parish of Jefferson, La., 

Carrollton, May 12. 1863. 
Lieitteiiant : 

Enclosed you will fine! your appointment as deputy provost marshal 
Parish Jefferson, to make your lieadquarters at Gretna. I also forward 
you a pass book and some instructions in regard to your duties. 

In granting passes you are specially referred to General Orders No. 87, 
in regard to persons coming within our lines who have not taken the oath 
of allegiance to the United States. 

In issuing passes you will use the printed form and no others, and one 
dollar must be collected and returned for each person named on each pass. 
You will make monthly statements to this office of passes issued and the 
money received therefor. You will pay the necessary current expenses of 
your office from the same, and forward vouchers to this office. 

You will give no passes to parties not having certificates of allegiance 
or of registered aliens, and to those not higher than Bonnett Carre. 

You will have a guard patrol the streets both night and day, and will 
arrest all stray negroes and all negroes who are not working for their 
masters or imder their authority, or the authority of the government, and 
give them their choice to go to work for their masters or for government. 
If they choose their master, send them to their master : if they choose to 
work for government, send them to me. 

You will see that order and quiet is preserved in your district, and 
arrest all parties engaged in disturbing the peace or committing any mis- 
demeanor, and in all cases where a trial is necessary, you will send the 
accused, with all the witnesses in the case, to this office for trial. 

John W. Ela, 
Captain and Provost MarsJial. 
E. G. Wood, 

Lt. Co. K, ist/t N. H. Vols.'' 

19 



290 The Fifteenth Xe70 Hampshire \ \)/iinteers. 

miles ; conversed with planters, and saw southern life ; a 
very enjoyable time. Lieutenant Larkin returns to camp. 
Stevens, of Company K, sergeant of the guard. Orderly 
Davis, of Company K, sick. 

May 14, Thursda}'. Warm and cloud)- ; slight sprinklings 
of rain ; good shower at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Usual 
routine. Lieutenant Wood, of Company K, with three 
corporals and ten men, crossed the ri\er to (iretna for patrol 
duty ; they were very pleasantly situated there, being quar- 
tered in a deserted mansion house. The}' left Carrollton at 
I I .\. M., marched to the stock landing, and then crossed by 
ferry. Captain Johnson officer of the day. Banks' forces, 
that have been operating west of the Mississip])i, commence 
the grand movement from Alexandria and vicinity toward 
Bayou Sara for the siege of Port Hudson. (They concentrate 
at Bayou Sara on the twenty-third, and moving thence imme- 
diately invest the place from the north, meeting, as will be 
seen, (leneral Sherman's arm)-, which adxanced from the 
south at the same time.) Ansel I"\ Young, of Compan)- A, 
died. 

May 15, Frida)-. Warm ; alternate showers and suiishine. 
Brigade drill and usual routine. Major Aldrich went to New 
Orleans ; muddy walking. Lieutenant Larkin went to New 
Orleans and got " shelters " to piece down tents. 

May 16, Saturday. Cloud)- and warm ; good breeze. 
Drill omitted on account of niud. Sergeant Leavitt, of 
Compan)- v\, went to hospital. Perkins, of Coni])an\- 11, 
lieutenant of the guard. 

May 17, Sunday. Yery warni ; cloud)- and o\ercast all 
day, with slight showers in tlie afteinoon. Major Aldrich 
and Lieutenant Mendley rode uj) to Kennerxille and dined 
wMth a Swiss woman ; honey, milk, ham, eggs, etc. Lieu- 
tenant Wood here from (iretna. Sergeant l^rown sits on a 
bo.x containing a thousand rounds of ammunition, and writes 
in his diary. 



A liny Life at Camp l^arapct. 291 

May 18, Monday. Cool and clear ; very pleasant. Brigade 
drill, etc. Ordered to clean guns and equipments for inspec- 
tion to-morrow. Boiled dish for dinner. Cross and Berry, 
of C'ompan)' G, in hospital very sick ; Berry has typhoid 
fever, and is emaciated and delirious. Harry Chamberlain 
and Edward P. Little, of Compan)' C, died. 

The last order at the parapet : 

He-Adqcarteks 15TH Rkgt. N. H. \'()ls., 

Qkwv Pakai'ET, May 18. 1863. 
General Order No. 36. 

There will be hereafter, till further orders, a school for the study and 
recitation of "Casey's Tactics" twice each week, at the tent of Major 
Aldrich. The time for holding said school will be decided on and notice 
given by Major Aldrich, commencing on Tuesday, May 19. All officers 
not required to lie absent on duty will punctually attend. 

By order of 

Col. Johx W. KLXcaLW. 
Edward E. Pinkham, 

Adjutant . 

May 19, Tuesday. A most beautiful day. Brigade drill two 
hours and three-quarters ; general and \'ery rigid and thorough 
inspection by A. A. Gen. Matthews. At 6 in the evening- 
orders received to go up rix'er to Baton Rouge with three 
days' rations ; Adjutant Pinkham with orders walked b)- the 
officers' tents and communicated with each ; boys in high spirits. 
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York returned from 
Ponchatoula. Captain Johnson brigade officer of the da)' ; 
Luther Stevens sergeant of the guard. S. D. Lougee, Com- 
pany A, returned from hospital. Corp. J. S. Piper, Company 
A, and C. Y. Swain, Company A, detailed. Plies and 
mosquitoes have become very annoying. All had been well 
drilled in company, battalion and brigade drills, and also in 
skirmishing and somewhat in the bayonet e.xercise. Men 
were reported as orderly, temperate, keeping tents and cloth- 
ing and arms in fine condition, and as being interested in 
their work and duties. 



292 The Fifteenth Xei^< HanipsJiire I o/nuteers. 

The Sick for Mav. 



Date. 


Officers. 


Non-commis- 
sioned officers. 


Privates. 


Totals. 


May I 


1 1 


20 


100 


131 


2 


9 


20 


105 


134 


3 


9 


22 


104 


135 


4 


10 


24 


108 


142 


5 


10 


24 


105 


139 


6 


1 1 


20 


103 


134 


7 


12 


25 


lOI 


138 


8 


II 


27 


109 


147 


9 


9 


25 


113 


149 


10 


9 


25 


1 1 1 


145 


1 1 


1 1 


23 


91 


125 


12 


1 1 


23 


85 


119 


13 


8 


24 


94 


126 


14 


8 


24 


107 


139 


IS 


8 


30 


105 


143 


16 


9 


27 


105 


141 


17 


8 


28 


98 


134 


18 


10 


27 


98 


135 


19 


8 


24 


105 


137 


20 


7 


30 


104 


141 



( 



Army Life at Camp Parapet. 



293 



Morning reports show present for duty the following 
effectives : 



Date. 


Captains. 


First 
lieutenants. 


Second 
lieutenants. 


Enlisted men. 


Mav 20 


4 




7 


451 


.. 31 


6 




6 


460 


June 10 


5 




5 


387 


20 






4 


380 


" 30 


I 




4 


36, 


July 1 


2 




4 


346 


" 15 


2 




4 


Z^7 


i« 


3 




4 


371 


" 19 


3 




4 


381 


" 20 


2 




4 


381 


" 30 


I 






475 


August 2 


6 




5 


458 



August 2 is the last report. May 20, 451 ; 13 musicians 
reckoned out, leaves 438 combatants who marched from the 
parapet ; but several of these were sent back sick before the 
battle of May 27. 



Now let us take a hasty glance at the situation. Mighty 
preparations have been made ; an army in the far North has 
been called into existence, transported to the South, and 
drilled and disciplined into the highest state of efificiency. 
The supreme moment of action has come ; Grant is at 
Vicksburg ; Port Hudson must fall, and the river be free. 
This severs the Ccjnfederacy in twain in a vital part and 
means victory, a restored Union, and an enduring peace. 
Preliminary to moving this army from New Orleans and its 
defenses, all the enemies of the Union have been registered 
and required to take an iron-clad oath of allegiance or be 



294 The Fiftcoitli Xcik.' Havtpshiir J \iluutccrs. 

transported within the Confederate Hnes. to the end that no 
enemies may be kn-kin<;- in the rear, and especially when the 
f,aeat Southern metropolis is left in a defenseless state. And 
besides, all the armed and organized enemies of the vicinity 
have been met and dispersed or captured by our armies as 
they swept the country west of the river and to a point above 
Port Hudson as far as Alexandria. And it should be remem- 
bered that Admiral T^arragut is between the two remaining; 
rebel strongholds on the ri\er with a part of his fleet ; and 
now the enemy to be met by (jcneral Banks are under (ien. 
Frank Gardner at Port Hudson and its vicinity, and although 
ordered to withdraw and unite with Jtjhnston, is, before he 
can effect his escape, entrapped and compelled to stand siege at 
that historic point. During these operations Johnston remains 
inactive, evidently unable to raise the siege or assist the 
entrapped Gardner. But Dick Taylor, towards its close, 
gathers some head and threatens our commuuication. espe- 
cially at Donaldsonville, and menaces New Orleans, which at 
one time was held by only four hundred of our men. Port 
Hudson was imested b\- a ]M)iti()n of (ieneral Banks' arm}- 
descending from the north by the Ba^ou Sara road and 
effecting a junction with (ieneral Sherman's dixision, now 
advancing from the .south. The junction was effected on the 
twenty-third, at which date the place was completely invested 
and the siege begun. 

May 20 was a verv beautiful da_\-, with a delightful breeze. 
General .Sheiman's dixision embarks at Carrollton for the siege 
of Port Hudson. When the order to moxe xxas received, 
eight companies. A, B. C. 1). I!, (i. 11. and I. were in the 
camp at the " Parapet," !*" and K were detached and on 
proxosl duty at Carrollton, excejit Lieutenant Wood. Company 
K. xvho. with three corporals and ten men. xxas doing j^atrol 
duty at (jretna across the river opposite .\ex\- Orleans. The 
regiment assembled at Carrollton. At 5 o'clock in the atter- 
noon Companies A, C, D, l^. II and I broke camji. and xxith 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 295 

the band and colors marched to Carrollton under command 
of the colonel, his staff being present with him ; 1^ and G, 
under Osgood, followed an hour later. On arriving at the 
landing Companies A, 13, D, E, F, G, H, and I marched 
aboard the ocean steamer ," Crescent," on which was already 
the Twenty-sixth Connecticut. Company C boarded the 
" United States," which was an ocean steamer also — an iron 
one — a propeller. Company K was relieved from guard at 
I o'clock, struck tents, and moxed their baggage and eleven 
days' rations to the " United States," upon which ship their 
embarkation was effected at about midnight. On the 
" United States " was already the One Hundred and Twenty- 
eighth New York. Soon after dark Company D was ordered 
off the "Crescent" and were put on patrol guard till 11 
o'clock, when they assisted in loading stores upon the " United 
States," and then took passage themselves on the same. 
Lieutenant Wood, Company K, with his squad, returned from 
Gretna via Algiers and New Orleans, and thence by rail to 
Carrollton. They left Gretna at 10 in the forenoon ; they 
spent the day in breaking camp and packing, and the night 

Note Captain Gordon wa.s lame and debilitated, and was alone with 

hi.s company. Lieutenants Martin and Colby and Orderly Sergeant Wells 
remaining behind with the numerous sick. 

Of Company C there remained behind sick the following : Orderly 
Sergeant Co.x, Corp. John B. Nelson, Daniel Bedel, John Clark,* John 
Carraway,* E. A. Eudy, L. L. Terrell,* C. J. Carpenter,! N.G.Bailey,* 
and T. E. Furnald;* and at Springfield Landing were left of Company C, 
Wilder P. Cross, James N. Garland, and Stephen Church. 

Of the field and staff and line, twenty-eight commissioned otificers sailed 
with the expedition. 

Lieutenant Wyatt was in command of Company B. 

Company D embarked with Captain Johnson, First Lieutenant Chad- 
wick and fifty-two guns, leaving sixteen sick behind. Company D left 
two sick at Springfield Landing. Lieutenant Durgin had with him seven 
detailed men from Company D at the time of embarkation. 

* Returned to duty June 21. t Returned to duty June S. 



ig6 



The Fiftcciith Xcii' HampsJiirc J \ihtntccrs. 



in the depot, sleeping on bags of oats, and in the morning 
went aboard the " Creole." Captain Osgood and his detach- 
ment went aboard just at dark. When orders to march were 
received, Captain Cogswell and his first lieutenant, Hendley, 
were both sick in bed at Carrollton, in a pri\ate house which 
they had hired, and where they were being cared for by 
Ezekiel Oilman of their company. Hendley was suffering 
from pleurisy, and had a severe fly blister on his side and 
breast, but at the word both feigned health, rose from their 
beds, and despite the remonstrances of Surgeon Horsch, 
rejoined the regiment and resumed dut}'. 

The morning report of this date shows present for duty 
the following effectives : Four captains, five first lieutenants, 
seven second lieutenants, and 451 enlisted men. But Com- 
panies F and K, being detached, are not included ; they 
would raise the number to 564, fifteen of whom were musi- 
cians, thus leaving 549 men carrying guns, who actually 
embarked on the expedition. This report would show that 
five of the captains were sick and excused b)" tlie surgeon. 
Captain hHa is left behind as proxost marshal of the district. 
But all the field and staff and all the cai:)tains, except I^la, 
sailed with their men, and all but six of the lieutenants. 

We begin now to see more of (ieiieral Sherman, and to 
feel his personality and force. He is actixe about the embar- 
kation ; the very fact of the presence of this trained and 
fiery son of Mars means war and blood)' fields. He is 
superbly uniformed and mounted ; he might be another 
Alexander were it not for his adxancing years ; he is untiring ; 
he ne\er sleeps ; his power is despotic ; lie is attended b)- a 
brilliant caxalcade of horsemen — the}' are othei" e}es and 
hands of his, and cku't hither and thither, and I'cach and see 
all things and everywhere. Nothing can moxe fast enough 
to suit him. The flotilla is to sail in the morning; the pro- 
di'dous work of l()a(lin<j- his arm\' and all its stores ot arms. 



An/iy Life at Port Hudson. 297 

ammunition, food, medical supplies, and bayga<;e and parapher- 
nalia, goes on through the night. Our quartermaster, 
Moody, who has been advanced to brigade quartermaster, is 
a man of tremendous energy, and is about his work with 
hundreds of men, all strained to their utmost tension. Sher- 
man, at his headquarters in New Orleans, becoming anxious, 
calls for his horse at midnight and spurs to the Carrollton 
landing, his aids scarcely keeping in sight. He dashes upon 
this scene of tumult ; torches burn everywhere and lanterns 
move about. Mule teams are going and coming, urged on by 
lash and shout. He demands who is in charge here, and on 
being referred to Moody, asks with a terrible imi:)recation 
why these stores are not loaded, and became so wrought up 
that at last Moody's temper is lost and he talks back to the 
general in a language that even astonished a West Pointer. 
There was great sport for those in hearing. Moody expected 
a court martial. But it appears that the old general, upon 
this more intimate acquaintance, liked the force of the man 
Moody and overk)oked his rash and hasty words. During 
all this our regimental commissary. Lieutenant Durgin, Com- 
pany D, with a gang of men, was engaged through the night 
loading stores aboard the " United States." 

But at length all is ready to sail. It is a vast armada. 
General Sherman and staff are on the " St. Mary," (General 
Dow and staff are on the " United States," our field and staff 
and band are on the "Crescent " ; and now on the morning 
of Thursday, the twenty-first, which was a fine day with 
several delightful little showers in the afternoon, the " United 
States" and others leave their moorings at daylight, and 
steam up the great river. The " Crescent," which was a side- 
wheeler, made a later start, but at 8 o'clock she overhauled 
and passed the "United States," the band playing "Yankee 
Doodle," " Hail Columbia," and other national airs. It 
seems that the "Crescent" left Carrollton at s a. m., but 



298 



The Fifteenth Xci\.' Hampshire I \^luntccrs. 



stopped at a point opposite the parapet, and there lay too till 
6 o'clock, when she again proceeded on her way. There 
the splendid "Crescent" took on also a jxjrtion of the 
famous Cjrierson's ca\alry. These cavalrymen were very gay 
on the trip and greatl)- delighted with the band, and passed 
the liat repeatedly to raise money to encourage the music. At 
9 o'clock the "Creole" made her start, but stopped at Ken- 
nerville, above the parapet, and took on three companies of 
the Sixth Michigan. As we proceed we pass successive sugar 
])lantations, fronting on the river and extending back in one 
broad, unbroken level to dense cypress forests ; the rows are 
straight as an arrow's flight, and reach from the levee to the 
dreamy cypress, in some places as far as two miles. At 2.30 
1'. .M. the "United States" passed Sparks's plantation, one of 
the finest on the river. All along here the rich owners have 
fled, and joined their fortunes with the Confederacy. This 
celebrated place, with others for many a mile, has been 
seized and is being worked by the h^deral goxernment. It 
is the garden of tlie world. The scenery is not much \aricd, 
but increases in interest and beauty as we ascend. It is 
c|uiet and sunny ; it is semi-tropical. The trees are draped 
in funereal mosses. Multitudes of men and teams are busy 
with the harxest. Cattle graze peacefully in broad meadows; 
the Inizzard with his broad, black wings fla})s slowly across 
the fields. All tlie land re\els in luxuriance and \erdure, 
and one can liear the ricli flora shooting from the teeming 
soil. 

The " L'nited .States" reached Baton Rouge at 8.30 o'clock 
in the exening, and dropped her anchor in the stream. The 
"Crescent," which was said to ha\e had 1.500 souls aboard, 
reached Haton Rouge ahead of the " L'nited .States" by more 
than two hours. The "Creole" arrixed just at daybreak of 
the twent\-second, and thereupon Lieutenant Wood and 
sciuad left her and boarded the " Cnited .States." 



Arjiiy Life at Port Hndso)i. 299 

Three hours previous the river steamer, " Mornin^i; Li(;ht," 
ran into the "Creole" astern, smashing her own nose so as 
to leave the " Morning Light " in a sinking eondition. A 
large, defunct river boat, the " Natchez," moc^-ed to the 
Baton Rouge shore, serves as a wharf. Captain Osgood 
received permission to l)ivouac his company in her cabin for 
the night ; the rest of the regiment remained aboard the 
boats in which they embarked. 

Nature, by some mighty upheaval, has raised wide tracts 
above the general level. This beautiful Southern capitol is 
situated on such a plateau, and makes a fine appearance on 
the lofty river front. The interior (jf the state house is 
burned out, but its massy snow-white walls and towers remain 
intact, and are a very conspicuous and pleasing object for 
many miles. On inspection it is found to be damaged by 
battle, and the tombstones in the near-by cemetery are 
shattered and marred by shot and shell. All anchors were 
dropped here. During the night flashes of guns and bursting 
shells were visible at Port Hudson, seventeen miles away as 
the buzzard flies, but by the winding river fixe and twenty. 
Many visited the shore during the stay at Baton Rouge, and 
breakfasted on the beach ; soft bread, ham, beef, and hot 
coffee were served. It was Friday, and the day very beau- 
tiful and breezy in the forenoon, but in the afternoon there 
was a succession of showers, some of which were very heavy 
and continuing till night. 

Note. The breakfast on the shore was rudely disturbed, for General 
Sherman, riding up in great fury with his staff, ordered one who acted as 
his trumpeter to ask General Dow "what in hell he was waiting for!"' 
at which the staff officer shouted across the water, •' The General desires 
to know why you do not proceed?" Uow replied that his men were 
at breakfast, whereupon Sherman .said, "Tell him, by God. to go on I "' 
The staff officer then shouted to General Dow these words, "The General 
desires that you proceed at once to Springfield Landing." The order 
was immediately given. 



300 The Fifteenth Xei^' Hampshire J \^lunteers. 

The fleet left Baton Rouge between 8 and 9 a. m., the 
"Crescent " apparently taking the lead, followed by the "St. 
Mary," the "United States," and the "Creole"; but the 
"Sally Robinson," which was a slower boat, had started 
ahead with the Sixth Michigan, and which we soon passed. 
On leaving Baton Rouge the band played " Marching Along." 
As w^e ascend, now, the banks on the right are high and 
uneven, heavily wooded and extremely beautiful. On the 
left there is the same continued levels of the lower Missis- 
sippi. Here we are conx-oyed and guarded b)' gunboats. 
After a run of twenty miles and at about i i o'clock, 
dropped anchor behind Prophet's Island, and commenced 
the debarkation at Springfield Landing in a pleasant grove of 
Cottonwood. Our great ocean steamers, with their enormous 
burthen, could here lie close up and throw a plank to the 
shore. The landing was co\"ered b}' the gunboats. This is 
fi\-e miles below the enemy's stronghold. We were the first 
troops to land, and immediately formed a line and awaited 
the debarkation of the rest. Now we were deprived of 
everything except our blankets, and two days' rations of hard 
bread ordered to be dealt out to each man and 100 rounds 
of ammunition. At the " Landing" here were some standing 
chimnex's of burned l)uildings. I'he writer of this well 
remembers placing his rifle into the o\)kiw fireplace of one ol 
these to protect it from one of the showers that fell at that 
time. The regiment now, at 2 o'clock, advanced a little way 
along a roatl, but was almost instanth- confrontetl b_\- a body 
of ca\alr)' that sprang into sight as if by magic. The)- were 
a jiart of (irierson's famous riders, and jierceiving the colors 
we bore, there was an instant and mutual recognition ; 
whereupon they dashed right and left into the woods on 
either side, and \anished as quickly as they came. At this 
instant gunboat No. 3 displayed her broadside and levelled 
her guns for action. 



^^-^K''^ 




Army Life at Port Hudson. 301 

At I o'clock the bugle sounded the advance, and the 
orders were repeated down the lines. The first light showers 
had passed, and the southern meridian sun now shone down 
like a blazing furnace. Afterwards copious showers again 
fell, although it was excessively warm ; the ground steamed, 
and the rain itself seemed like tepid water. But the sun's 
fierce rays were screened ; the march was through a densely 
wooded and verdant land, and the breeze thereby stayed. 
During the march the band played. Firing was heard 
ahead, and at one time an orderly rode up and stated that a 
battle was in progress, and our division was hurried forward. 
Soon after this incident a regiment of colored troops was met, 
but which filed off into a field at the left and disappeared 
in the woods, and directly afterward heavy musketry firing- 
was heard. Our regiment toiled on and on, with all its 
burdens, through the drenching rain, in excessive heat and 
clayey mud, for about ten miles, when at night it bivouacked 
in a very pleasant and diversified country called Beulah Plains 
and on the Clinton road. We are now in the rear of fort 
Hudson and four or five miles from, and directly verging 
upon, their outer works. A strong picket is thrown out. 
The booming of Farragut's guns is distinctly heard through 
the night. The showers ceased, but dew dropped from the 
trees like rain. 

The bivouac of the twenty-second was one of much interest 
on many accounts. We were within the sound of hostile 
guns. There had recently been severe battles fought at 
Baton Rouge, and at the " Plains store " yesterday, and for 
two or three days battling had been going on in the vicinity 
of this very point. General Nickerson's brigade arrived in 
the evening and bivouacked near at hand. All but the pickets 
lie on the wet ground, under the open sky. The orderlies 
called the roll. After roll-call, and before retiring, the irre- 
pressible spirits of the camp are at their pranks. Wild hogs 



302 TItc Fifteenth Xew Havipsliire I'oliinteers. 

are raced about the fields and woods ; they are extremely 
agile, and followed b\- a crowd run this and that way, and 
tack with <;reat dexterit}'. One such, on dodj^ini; a corner, 
was brought low b\' a comrade landing; an axe in his back. 
It was instanth' skinned and cut into messes and toasted on 
rammers in the tire. But it appears that few of the men had 
food enough to last them during the march, and nearly all 
made their bed in the mud and went supperless thereto, foot- 
sore and weary, as none but soldiers can ever know. But 
some i:)arto()k of the toasted wiltl hog, without salt or condi- 
ment of an)- kind, excei)t that of hunger, which was said b\- 
the old Romans to be the best sauce. The bottoms of haver- 
sacks are searched for the last crumb of bread, and all was 
eaten with that sunny kind of a heart that is a continual 
feast, not only to its own liosom but to all the world besides. 
Most slept ver_\- soundly and awoke in the bright morning 
refreshed. 

But it must not be thought that at such a time all can rest. 
Some must watch while others sleep ; and within an lioui- 
Company K, exhausted as they are and with scant food, is 
marched more than a mile away to the front and stationed on 
picket duty for the night, and not being recalled remained 
here all the next day and night, and till 5 w m. of the twenty- 
fourth, when the)- receixed orders to i-cjoin the regiment. 
Company K sjjrang to this duty with alacrit)', and had while 
so stationed a varied experience. During the night all heard 
the bombardment of Port Hudson. They were stationed in a 
grove of live oaks. We will follow them and then return to 
the main column, which at noon of the twent)-third. mo\ed 
forward passing tlicm and Icaxing them alone behind. They 
found excellent water here and higli blackberries in great 
profusion, which two things constituted their food until the 
twenty-fourth, when fresh meat was procured in abundance. 
Sergeant .Stexens. with Charlie Harrington, on the twenty- 



I 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 303 

fourth, scoured the country and found a building hidden in 
the woods filled with cotton, and from this trip brought in a 
sheep. Meantime, Hill Tabor and others had procured two 
hogs, a sheep, and a lamb. And on this day Tabor stole 
from Lieutenant Durgin's passing wagons a box of hardtack, 
which was a great treat to the famished men. 

When orders were received for Compan}' K to go on this 
duty, some had already thrown themselves on the ground 
rolled in their blankets, while others were gathering materials 
for a fire ; their officers were all present with them. They 
were advanced on the Port Hudson road and there deployed 
as skirmishers right and left into the woods and fields on 
either side. David Sloan was corporal of the guard that night. 
All was quiet with them. At 5 in the evening of the twent)'- 
fourth, they received orders to rejoin the regiment, which 
they accomplished by a three-mile march to the front, l^ill 
Tabor entered a plantation yard and shot the sheep right on its 
owner's piazza. It was " Mary's " own pet lamb, and there was 
never seen a madder crowed than the old man, and two women 
and a boy, who instantly appeared on the scene. But Bill 
appeased the lady of the house by his affability, and afterward 
procured of her some salt for the seasoning. It was toasted 
on rammers, and was a great feast. 

May 23, Saturda}'. On the night of the twenty-second 
the regiment slept on their arms. The morning of the 
twenty-third broke bright and beautiful, but soon clouded, 
and from 6 to 8 o'clock in the evening there was a very 
heavy shower, after which the night was wonderfully clear 
and tranquil. At 3 in the morning heavy firing is heard at 
the fort, which continued for upwards of an hour. Usual 
roll-call at daybreak. Ordered to prepare for inspection ; the 
guns are in bad condition on account of the rains. The 
provisions have not arrived, and there is no breakfast ; but 
there was lively pig racing, and one splendid Jersey cow was 



304 The Fiftcctith Xciv Havipshiir I 'oluntccrs. 

killed. j\ woman came out with a little boy mourning its loss 
most ]:)itifully. "O," she said, " <^entlemen, you have killed 
m\- l)est cow!" It was toasted on rammers. After inspec- 
tion orders were awaited ; meantime canteens were filled at a 
neii^hborini;- si)rin,i;-. .About 10 the whole division was called 
on line and reviewed by General Sherman, the band playing, 
after which arms were stacked, and all rested till noon. Then 
the bugles sounded attention, when all sprang to their ])laces, 
took their arms, and marched off toward the neighboring 
stronghold. After an advance of fifty rods or so, were coun- 
ter-marched to last night's camping ground, and formed line 
of battle facing outward, it being reported that the enemy 
were in our rear. Stood here in line till i in the afternoon, 
momentarily expecting attack ; cavah}- scour the country 
meanwhile. We then mo\e again toward Port Hudson. 

Commissary Durgin, after prodigious labor, got his stores 
on wagons, and left Springfield Landing at 9 o'clock, lie 
overtook the regiment soon after i v. m., while on the march, 
and as he dro\e down the line, boxes of hard bread were 
pitched from a wagon into the road, which broke open as they 
fell. Many of the boys were famished now. There was a 

NoTK. Extract from a newspaper article: "Here — at ]>eula — we 
halted for the night. Our company, being without rations, fell to scour- 
ing the country for forage, and soon started a razor-back pig, which the 
boys cha.sed witli great sjiirit and hilarity. It evaded the jjursuit for a 
longtime, but finally, in one of its tacks, Tom Hrown landed an axe in its 
back, splitting it almost from end to end. In another minute it was cut 
into pieces, which were toasted on the ends of rammers and eaten with 
great relish, althougii without seasoning or other accompaniments of any 
kind. Years afterwards, a comrade who partook of tliis feast said to me 
tliat that was the sweetest bite he ever ate. ICaily next morning I waded 
into the margin of a shallow pond, skimmed away with my liands the 
thick scum that mantit'd its surface, and then perfornieil m\ morning 
ablutions and filled my canteen. This was the morning of .May twenty- 
third." 



Aniiy Life nf Port Hudson. 305 

brief halt aloni; the cool and shady roadside while they ate. 
Many sat on the i;reen sward or rested on the fences. The 
road was a ]:)eautiful one, winding through grand old woods 
of live and white oak, white and sweet gum, beech and ash, 
whose branches formed a complete arch above. At 3, emerg- 
ing from the woods, we were in a position to see the shells 
from b'arragut's ffeet pouring in on Port Hudson, now only 
three miles awa)\ We file into a broad opening, which 
slightly descends, with thick woods on three sides, and taking 
up a strong position, form line of battle with the Sixth 
Michigan on the right, next the 1^'ifteenth New Hampshire, 
the h'irst Vermont i^attery, the One Hundred and Twenty- 
eighth Xew York, and the One Hundred and Si.\t}-hfth New 
York. This line was formed at 4 o'cliKk. The gunboats in 
the rixer o\'er the woods are booming away ; the cavalry are 
scouring the country on the flanks and front. High black- 
berries abound ; wild pigs were slaughtered. While resting 
in place in the lines, some dug peanuts from the ground with 
their bayonets. After a halt of about three minutes we 
again advanced to the edge of the woods on oiu" front, nearl}' 
a half mile, and ])repared to camp for the night. This day's 
march was of about four miles duration, during which the 
enemy fell back before us, and the line of battle was formetl 
three se\'eral times expecting an immediate attack, h'ires 
were now kindled to prei:)are supi^er, when a terrific thunder 
shower fell, completely quenching and drenching e\-er)'thing. 
At length, however, coffee was made and supper was had of 
hard bread and salt i)ork, either rau' or toasted on the ram- 
mer. Cannonading went on incessantly at the fort in front, 
but there are heavy screens of woods between. It was with 
great difficulty that the guns were gotten into condition for 
service and the morning inspection. Slept in an old corn or 
cane field, Ivinir lenuthwise between the rows. 



306 The Fiftccutli Xci^' Hainf^sliiir I 'oluntccrs. 

Now some of our merry wags named this bixouac " Camp 
Mutton," as there had been great slaughter of the inno- 
cent lamb and goose. Conipan\' 1*^ feasted on Iresh beef, 
veal, and pork, which the\- liad butchered. The cavah)- 
scout e\er) where. But as soon as arms liad been stacked 
for the night and all were resting on the ground, orders were 
received for C(jni])anies 1), h^ and (i "to report to (ieneral 
Dow at his headquarters, and from iiere, a small ])art being 
held in reser\e, the}' were advanced as skirmishers through 
the dense, dark woods in front, luuler Major Aldrich, and were 
so em])loyed all night. . A sergeant and three men were sent 
forward to recomioitre. This night the countersign was 
"Banks." The Sixth Michigan also adxanced through the 
woods and engaged the enemy's pickets. At 5 in the evening 
C"om])an\ K. left at Heulah on picket, received orders to 
rejoin the regiment, when the\ inmiediatel)' marched forward 
and found the regiment in bix'ouac for the night ; they were 
e.\cessi\ely wear\' and hungrw Tlie whole di\ision stack 
arms and sleep on this line. 

May 24, Sunday. Cool and \er} delightful till night. 
Breakfasted on hard bread, broiled ham and water. Heavy 
artillei"y tiring all da\' ; at 2 v. m. it rises to a brisk cannonade. 
The right wing of the arm}-, under Weitzel, (iro\er, and 
Dwight, encountered the enenn' outside the works, and after 
a sharj) fight,of which we hear the continual roar of musketr}-, 
drove him within his main entrenchments. ( )rdered to rest 
in place, and be read}' to moxe at a moment's notic'c. At 
^.^O ordered to acKance at 5 ; moxed then forwanl two miles 
to the enemy's outer works ; line foriiied tweiit}' rods in front 
of theni. These works are rilie pits extending to right and 
left for a long wa\s. Colonel Kingman s]nu'red ahead of his 
regiment and oxer these woiks. (ienerals Banks and Sher- 
man dash up, attended b\ a cahalcade of their staff and aids, 
luid minuteh' scan the situation. Companies \\ and C are 



Ai-Jiiy Life at /'oii Hmhou. 307 

detailed back to the bi\ouac of last nii;ht to escort the 
baggat^e train, (ieneral Auger is now shelling the enemy's 
main line of works. We can see the mortar shells from the 
fleet burst in the air. At the approach of the dewy night 
ate our hard bread and salt pork, adxanccd into the woods, 
rolled ourselves in our blankets, and lay down on our arms. 
Pickets are firing through the night in our immediate front, 
and some heavy guns are heard. There were heaxy tropical 
showers, with terrific lightning and thunder in the night, and 
those who la}- in low places woke in the morning in the 
midst of ])onds of water, the writer of this being thus almost 
complctel}' immersed, except his nostrils. l^ut this is not an 
uncommon experience, and excites no comment. Just in the 
edge ot the woods was a hea\y V^irginia rail fence ; it was 
le\"eled in an instant. During the showers in the dense 
woods, l{g)ptian tlarkness prevailed, except for the blinding 
flashes of heaxen ; but there were sporting spirits even here 
who enlixened the occasion with bursts of merriment. Such 
remarks were heard as " Shut the door. Hill," " Put down 
the window,"' " Come in out of the rain," and occasional 
peals of laughter. Comjxmies \) and I{ were achanced to 
support the picket line, and Company (} was designated as a 
reconnoitering jwrty, and the story of their duty and experi- 
ences for this night is best told in the reminiscences of Sergt. 
" Gus " .\yers, which I append. 

Reminiscences of Sergeant Ayers, of Comjianx' (i, for 
Sunda}', Ma)- 24 : 

" Poward night Ca])tain ( )sgood called his men on line, 
and said a com])anv had been called for to reconnoiter 
and the colonel had tlesignated Company G. He then 
explained what was required of us, and said, ' In military 
a sergeant has charge of a reconnoitering part}', but in 
this case I shall go myself.' He then dismissed the com- 
pany with instructions to hold theniselves in readiness at a 



30<S The I'ifticiitli .AVri' Haiiif>sliiir Wiliiutccrs. 

moment's notice when tlie call came. lie said, ' I will i;() 
over and talk with the picket ofTicer (who was of the Sixth 
Michigan) and learn what is e.\[)ected of us.' While he 
was gone we receixed orders from headc|uarters. and our 
Lieutenant Pickering drew up the company, expecting;' the 
captain back momcntaril}-. It was now near sunset. Lieu- 
tenant Pickering sent .Sergeant Brown to notif\- the captain, 
but he returned aftei a time without finding him. Pickering- 
became im|)atient ami said, 'Danm it, (ius, you go.' Ik- 
was found near by with the Michigan officer sitting on a log. 
Ayers said, 'Captain, the\' are looking for you.' He came 
back with Ayers, when the\- receixed orders to march. lie 
then detailed Ayei s to take ten men and reconnoiter ahead; 
of the ten he was, first to take four and ])ost one eight paces 
in front of the ])icket line, eight paces more to station 
another, and so on till the four were placed. .Sam Peri-\ was 
the front one; Drew was one of the ten. If, when the\- 
were stationed, all was loiuid tiuiet, the whole were to 
be advanced eight i)aces, and then a fifth man was to be 
selected to take the lear man's place, Ayers picking a man 
each time and advancing eight paces at a time till the whole 
ten were used. When A)ers came back after placing his ten 
men, he found a .Sixth Michigan ]Mcket aslec]) on his post, 
and took from him his gun, which waked him ; he then gaxe 
it back to him. A_\ers had been given all night to penetrate 
the woods, but at 9 o'cloek he had his men established. 
lie ])asse(l from the front hack and torth three or lour limes; 
the last time hack. Captain ( )sgood said that i)i-(»l)ablv the 
bugle would sound an advance. When he heai'd the bugle 
sound the advance. Avers assembled his detail on liisfroiU man, 
and the whole picket line then swept foiward to that position. 
Ayers advanced his men through the woods, and .giving 
them orders to remain theie he leturned for the lonipany, 
the cajitain having said he would relieve him in two hom's. 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 309 

Captain Osi^ood then marched the company forward to 
Ayers" detail ; after reachin-;- that point, \oices were heard 
some eii;ht rods off to the left, but it could not be known 
whether they were of the eneni}- or friends. 'I'he captain 
said, ' (ius, )'ou take two men and ,i;() out and see if the\' are 
Union or rebel ]3ickets, but don't let them know you are 
there, whether they are rebs or not.' A\'ers took H. D. 
Xutter and Jeremiah h^merson, and they worked their way 
aloni;" ; when they i;()t near the voices, they were makini;- too 
much noise breaking sticks antl brush. Ayers said, ' Wait 
here, and I will go alone.' They both took hold of his 
hand, and said he should not go ; but Ayers crawled on up 
behind the trees in front of which the men were, and listened 
till he was con\inced that the\- were Union pickets, and then 
made his way back, when Xutter and hjnerson caught him 
and hugged him and kissed him. They had not yet met the 
enemy's pickets. There was a path that led up toward the 
' Slaughter' house, a plantation hcnise owned b}' one Slaughter 
or Schalter ; the house could be seen, but it appeared to 
be all dense woods about. L'pon reaching this ])oint, the 
moon, which was now in its hrst quarter and set at seven 
minutes past midnight, broke through the clouds hanging- 
low in the west, and dimly lighted u}) the scene. The 
captain sent Ayers up this path with instructions to hre at his 
order. Upon getting well out, at the captain's order he fired 
and drop])ed, after which, eliciting no response, he was called 
back, and remained with the company till daylight ; then the 
company i-ejoined the regiment. This was the first serxice 
of Company Ci in the immediate front." (Some had thought 
that the captain was dilator)' in entering ui:)on this duty, but it 
appears that he and the Michigan officer were onl}' awaiting 
the approach of night, as the movement was to be made 
under co\er of darkness.) 

Port Hudson is now invested, and the stor\' of the siege 
will begin. 



310 The I-iftccntli Xcic Havipsliiir W^liDitccrs. 

(ii:N. N. V. JVwKs' Aion a i iiii'. Sii:(.i-: oi- Pok i Hldson. 

Maj.-(icn. Xatlianicl P. Hanks in command of the Xinctce-nth 
/\rm\- Cor]:)s. 

V\\<>\- I)1\ISI().\. 

Maj.-Gen. Christoplicr C". Aui;cr. 
hirst /Irio-ndc, 

Col. Kclward P. Clia])in ; killed May 27. 
Col. Charles J. Paine. 
Second Louisiana, r\vent}-hrst Maine, h'orty-ei^hth Massa- 
chusetts, Forty-ninth Massachusetts, One Hundred and 
Si.xteenth New York. 

Sccoud /irio(u/c. 
i^rio-.-(ien. (iodfrey Weitzel. 
'Pwelfth Connecticut, Sexenty-fifth New \'ork. One Hundred 
and l-'ourteenth New York, One Hundred and Sixtieth 
New \'ork, j'aj^hth X'ermont. 

Third T^rioadc. 
C oi. .Xathan A. M. Dudley. 
Thirtieth Massachusetts, l-"it'tieth Massachusetts, ( )ne Hun- 
dred and Si\t\ -fnst Xew \'ork, ( )ne Hundred and .Sc\ent\- 
fourth Xew \'ork. 

ArtilUrv. 

I'"irst Indiana IIea\\, h'irst Maine Hatter\, Si.xth .Massachu- 
setts Hatteiy, l".i-htecnth Xew \'ork Pattern h'irst Cnited 
States Hatteix .\, i-"il'th Cnited States Pattery ('.. 

I iiattiuhcd. 

I""irst Louisiana l'!n^ineers. Corps d\\t'ric|ue, l-"irst Louisiana 
Native (iuards. Third i,ouisiana Xative (iuards, h'irst 
Louisiana Ca\alr\, .Second khode Island Caxalrw 



.//-;//)' Life at Port Hudson. 31 1 

SlXONl) I)1\'1S1()X. 

Brig.-Cicn. Thomas W. Sherman. 
l-'irst Briiradc. 

Bri<;.-(ien. Ncal Dow ; wounded May 27. 

Col. David S. Cowles ; killed May 27. 

Col. Thomas W. Clark. 

Twenty-sixth Connecticut, Sixth Michigan, Fifteenth New 

Hampshire, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York, 

One Hundred and .Sixty-second New York. 

Third Ih-ii^adc. 
Brig.-Cicn. h'rank S. Nickerson. 
1^'ourteenth Maine, Twenty-fourth Maine, Twenty-eighth 
Maine, One Hundred and Sixty-fifth New York, One 
Hundred and Seventy-fifth New York, One Hundred and 
.Seventy-se\'enth New York. 

Artillery. ' 
I^'irst X'ermont Battery. 

riiiKi) i)i\isi()x. 

Brig.-Cien. Halhert \\. Paine; wounded June 14. 

First Brigade. 

Col. Timoth}' Ingraham. 
Col. Samuel P. Ferris. 
Twenty-eighth Connecticut, Fourth Massachusetts, One Hun- 
dred and Tenth New \'ork. 

Seeond Bria^ade. 
Col. Hawkes Fearing, Jr. 
Fighth New Hampshire, One Hundred and Thirty-third 
New York, One Hundred and .Sevent)'-third New ^'ork, 
Fourth Wisconsin. 



312 The h'tftccutlt -AVti' fidiiif^s/iiir \'ohiiitccrs. 

Third T^rioadr. 

Col. ( )li\cr 1'. ("loodin-. 
Thirty-tirst Massachusetts,- rhirt\-L'i,i;hth Massachusetts, 
I^"ift)-third Massachusetts. One Iluiuhed aiul l-'it't\ -sixth 
New \'<.rk. 

Arti/icrv. 

lM)Ui-th Massachusetts Battery, l-"irst L'nitetl States Battery 
l-\ Second \'erniont Batter\ . 

Brii;'.-(ien. Cinier ("iro\er. 

T'iis/ Triiiiuh-. 

Col. Joseph (i. Mor-an. 
I^'irst Louisiana, TwentN -second Ahiine, Xinetietli New \'oi"k, 
Xinety-tirst New \'ork, ( )ne Iluiuh-ed and 'I'hii-tx-tirst 
New \'ork. 

C ol. Wilham K. Kimball. 
Twent} -fourth COimecticut, Iweltlh Maine, l-'itt \-second 
Massachusetts. 

Th/r,/ />/7i;-i/t/i\ 

Col. Ilemv W. !iir-e. 
Thirteenth Connct't icut , Twent \-tit'th Coiniecticut, Twenty- 
sixth .Maine, ( )ne llundred and lMft\-nint h New \nvk. 

ArtilU-ry. 

Second Massachusetts i>attery, [-"irst United Slates i^attery 
I, Second Cnited States Batter\- C. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 313 

L avalry. 
Col. Hcnjamin H. (irierson. 
Sixtli Illinois, Sc\cnth Illinois, V'w>\ Louisiana, Third Massa- 
chusetts, I-^)Uitccnth \cw \'ork. 

L 'orf^s (f . [friqiic. 

Sixth Infanti")-, Scxcnth Infanti"}', I'^ii^hth lntantr\-, Ninth 
Infantn-, Tenth Infantn'. 

C()Xfki)i:kaii-; ( )K(..\.\iza rioxs Wrniix Poki Hldsox. 

Major-lien, l^'rank (iarclner, C. S. A. 

i'"iist and T"ort\-ninth Alabama. 
Ahun\- Artilleiw 
Tenth .Arkansas. 

Detachment T^leventh and Seventeenth Arkansas. 
Twelfth, J^\)urteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, lu-^hteenth, 
and 'I'\vent\-third Arkansas. 
Detachment I''ourth Louisiana. 
Xintli Louisiana l-iattalion, Infantr}'. 
Ninth T.ouisiana Battalion, I^artisan Rangers. 
INvelfth Louisiana Tieavy Artiller}'. 
I'liirtieth Louisiana Detachment. 
Miles' Louisiana Lei^ion. 
l^rown's Louisiana Hatterw 
Watson's Louisiana l^atterw 
T'irst Mississipj)i. 

Claiborne Mississippi Light Infantry. 
Thirst Mississippi Light Artillery (three batteries). 
ICnglish's Mississippi Battery. 
Se\en Stars Mississipjii Battery. 
First 'Tennessee Heavy Artiller}-, Compan\- (i. 
T'irst 'Tennessee Light Artillerw Compan\- B. 
Imi^rovised 'Tennessee Battalion. 



314 'riul-'iftcoitli .\c7c Hiiiupsliiir I'ohnitccrs. 

1 sliall ,i;i\c, from time to time, soniethini; of what the 
signal corps in their erow's nests, in tree to])s and other lofty 
positions, are wigwaging, tliough at the time, of course, we 
(lid not know their imjioit. 

NoTi;. Ottkial (li>iutcli. ■I"lu- tnllowinii ofiicial disiKUchus are of 
interest : 

.\K.\K I'our Ml nso\. May 23. x'^h},. 
To S/i^/zii/ Offut'r near Placioii C/imcli : 

Sir — Tlie follow ini; i^ood news has just heen received from Colonel 
(irierson : 

■■ We are half mile north of railroad. Ihue met ( ".eneral CroNer with 
his division, (".eneral Hanks is three miles hack. .News tVom (ieneral 
(irant is glorious. lie cut Johnson's forces to ]jieces, capturing sixtv-one 
piece.s of artillery. He has V'icksburg hemmed in so the\- cannot use 
their seige guns. 

<;i:\. C. C. .\r(.i;K." 
Send the above despateh to the tieet. 

C. IJ. 11.\i.sm;.ai), 

./../. Ccii. 

Hi;ai)(.)1\ki i;ks Fiksi' I)i\rsio\. Plains SroKi:, 

.\lav 24. iSr.3 — r, V. \i. 
To Coptuiii Aldi'ii. rDiiuiidiidiii!^ the Ricltiiioiui : 

(ieneral lianks is up w ith his forces, and wi' tlose in around the foit 
this morning, and will prohahlv open upon them in tiie course ot the dav. 
The ( k-neral wishes me to sa\ that he will keep the admii'al inloiiued ot" 
the progress of affairs. 

(IKN. C\ e'. .\l(,KK. 

The following signal dispatches of Ma\- 24. are of interest : 

To . \(Uiiiral l-\irrai^iit : 

I ha\i- nothing from Hanks sinee \esterdav morning. 

r \i \n;i;, CoiiiiiiOiiorc. 
To ( (iimnoilorc Toliiici : 

Hold on and watch events, and he readv to take .idvantage of them. 

I). {',. F \KK \(.i r. . liUiiiiol. 



Army Life at Port Uudsoji. 315 

To CoiiiinoiUuc I'a'tiiicr: 

To tirt on tlie batteries from ,il)()\e woiikl injure our li()<)])s more tlian 
the enemy jjerhaps. 

Ja.mi;s .Vi.Di'.x. Captain. 

.lldeit to Patiiicr : 

JJanks has forces on the i)oint. Auyer is within one mile of" the tort. 
Tlie rest are near. 

Oeneral (irant has been everv wav successful. I hope Vickslmrt; is l)v 
this time ours. .Any news from tlie aruiy? 

l'.\l..\IKK. 

Pa till CI' ti> /-'arrag'/it : 

(leneral iSanks re(|uests me to shell the west side of Thompson's creek 
at midnight, to prevent any attempt of the enemy to escape im tliat side. 
\'ou will imderstand the firing. 

May 25, Monday. \'ei")- warm and pleasant. Cliarles H. 
Sanborn, Company H, diet! at Carrollton. The l)o}s are 
ver)- cheerful and frolicsome. Companies H and C are 
stationed at the rear on picket duty and to _i;uard tlie haj4i;"af^e 
train ; the Sixth Michigan is skirmishini; in our front. At 
2 o'clock in the afternoon one of them is wounded in the 
knee and soon after another, and soon attain foiii" or fi\e more 
come back wounded. It seems to ha\e been tlie piu"])ose of 
(ieneral Dow to obser\e <;uard moimt in the usual manner 
and at the usual time — 3 w m. — and then it was that a 
hulicrous incident occiu-red. h^i'ost, the band leadei, modestly 
sui;-i4ested that tlie music would i;i\e the enem}' our range, 
w'heretipon the old general exclaimed in a mock-])etulant 
vein, " If )-ou 're afraid to play, you'd better go home." I^ut 
immediately as they struck up "Yankee Doodle Dand)- " 
there was a prolonged unearthly screech as a shell trom the 
concealed eneni)' swei)t o\'er our heads, l)ut not exploding, 
touched the groimd just behind our lines, and tlirowing up a 
great cloud of earth, ricochetted for a mile or more, boring 
a hole through tlie dense forest in our rear. We instinctively 



^]6 'Flic l^iftccutli .\rri' Haiuf^sltiir I'olniticers. 

watch it and sec tlic t\\ii;s aiul branches droj) from the trees 
in its c-()ui"sc. Another immediately followed, burstin.i;- near 
the old i;cncrars tent, when he despatched an aid to I'rost 
witli ordeis to cease pknini;. Tliis was the last time the 
band e\er plaxed. It was said that tlie\' stopped suddenlv 
rii;ht in the midst of a tunc and ha\'e not finished it yet. 
()ui- ix\i;iment is now fairK under tire, and Com])an}' H havin<;: 
icturned to the front, one of its hoys — Walter H. l-'anumi — 
is wounded in the knee ])\- a buckshot while on the j^icket 
line ; twent\-one da\ s aftci', lie died at Baton Roui^e, as is 
reported, of ••disease," but his decease ma\- ha\e been 
lari;el}-, if not w hollw due to this injurw He was the first 
ot our bo\ s to i-ecei\e injurx' from missiles of the enemy, 
althou,L;h tjuUe a number of the brigade had prior to this 
been more or less sexerely wountled. 

Companx' C ,i;uai-dcd the train and militar\' stoi'cs all of 
last nii;ht, but in the afternoon mo\ed down near the rifle 
])its in rear of (icneral Dow's head(|uarters, as an escort to 
the tiain and -uai-dccl its rear ; ten men under Lieutenant 
Bean remained on i^uard tliere, and the c-()mpan\- now rejoined 
the line. 

Toward eveniiiL; there was \er\ hea\\' cannonatHuL; ami 
aitillci\ lirini;, both i"i,i;ht and left, makini;' one continuous 
roll of thunder. .\t 6 o'clock there was infanti'}- h^htinj;- in 
our iVont. .\l dai'k the nnisketr\' tirin- ceased, but the 
artiller\- roared on all thiou-h the iiii^ht. i'"arra-ut's fleet 
and the tiotilla of nioi'tar boats below Port Hudson poured in 
their bursting; shells, and at () o'clock our own \'ei-mont 
battei\' mo\ed foi'ward into the woods between us and 
.Aui;ei''s position, and opened their brazen throats in the 
universal diir I'lius i;reat .i^uns belch their tires, and shells 
flash and howl and (.rash through the forests, brin,i;ini;- down 
branches and sometimes felling ^iant mai;nolias in their 
eoui'se. 



Afviy Life at Port Hudson. 317 

Conipaii)- H. under Captain Sanborn, was advanced to a 
position in the edi;e of the woods frontint;- the eneni}' and 
only forty rods therefrom, Init just after dark moved a quarter 
of a mile to the left into a ra\ine to intercept the enemy if 
he should sally forth. 

Durini;- the day some ventured throut;h the interxenini;- 
narnnv woods to view the enemy's works. Sergeant Trickey, 
Comj^an)- 1, thus saw a picket fi,i;"ht, which was \ery interest- 
ing- but somewhat dangerous. He saw some of the Sixth 
Michigan pickets fall, and had a clear view of the main line 
of the Confederate works, and saw^ their flags and sentries. 
At tliis juncture. General Sherman's di\isi()n stands as fol- 
lows, beginning from the right : The Sixth Michigan, One 
Hundicd and Twenty-eighth New York, T\vent}-sixt]i Con- 
necticut, Fifteenth New Hampshire, One Hundred and 
Fifty-sixth (Duryea's Zouaves) New York ; and for artillery 
the h'irst X'ermont Battery of six rifled 12-pounders, another 
batter)- of six guns, and an Indiana battery of two brass 
6-pounders, eight 20-pounders, and four 30-pounder Parrots, 
(icneral Nickerson, commanding tlie third brigade of Sher- 
man's dixision, is on our left with the Fourteenth Maine, the 
Twenty-fourth Maine, the Twenty-eighth Maine, the One 
Hundred and Sixty-fifth New York, the One Hundred and 
Seventy-fifth New York, and the One Hundred and Seventy- 
seventh New York. 

Major-General Auger, having marched from l^aton Rouge 
with about 3,500 men, effects a junction with Sherman's 
right and our achancing forces from Ba}ou Sara, he ha\ing 
encountered the enemy at Plains store on the twenty-first 
and defeated him, suffering a loss of fifteen killed and eight)- 
five wounded. l^efore daylight of the twenty-sixth the 
pickets along the entire front unite, extending about ten 
miles, and the mighty ramparts of Port Hudson are com- 
pletely invested. The I^ighth New Hampshire, as the leading 



3l8 The h'ifUinth Xr:^' Ilaui/^sl/iir I'ohnitccrs. 

re<;imcnt of (icncral Paine's dixision, from Haxou Sara, made 
its \\a\ thr()ii,L;h the woods in tlie i"eai" of Port lludson in 
Indian tile, and met (ien. Aui^er's jjickets on the rii;lu centre. 
The eneiin's works consisted of a i:)arai)et, about six miles 
in extent. reachin<;- in a i^enerally semi-circular form, from a 
lofty bluff below the villaL;e around the rear, and strikin- the 
river ai^ain abo\e the town. It was l^uilt around the outside 
of a threat bend, and inclosed a wide tract somewhat sha])ed 
like the crescent moon. This parapet defended from cai)ture 
the enemy's water batteries, which blockaded the ri\er and 
which bristled on the brink of the lofty, beetlin,^- face of the 
river bank, as shown on the map. A boat in passini;- must 
stem the current subject to their tire for the whole length ol 
their line not only, but for the full extent of their range both 
up and down the stream — a distance of at least ten miles. 
As has been already stated, a portion of I-'arragut's fleet 
successfullv ran the gauntlet of their lire on the night of 
March 14, and the cannonading was distinctl}' hcaid at (/amp 
Parajx't, nearh' an hundred miles awa)'. 

The i)lateau about Port lludson is cut by ri\ ulets into a 
network of tortuous raxines with steep banks and densel}' 
wooded bottoms, which grow broader and deeper as they 
approach the river, where they enter the mighty stream with 
lofty and I I'owning headlands on either side. Taking ad\an- 
tage of the ra\incs, the enem}' had constructed their defenses 
on the brink of their inner edges so far as might be. and 
thus the\- were, for the most part, as strong as (iibraltar 
itself. Where this natural defense failed tlu-m, the works 
were doubled and si lengthened \)\ bastions and outworks 
with all the skill known to militar_\- science. The enemy 
nmnbcred eight thousand men, and were thus in a jiosition 
well nigh imi)regnable. Phex' were concealed behind their 
works, and b\- those peering out of our sheltering woods the 
white face of their parajK't could be seen zigv-aging away to 
he right and left until it disappeared from \iew. 



Army Lift at Poii Hudson. 319 

May 26, TucsdaN'. luioch C. Dearth, Compan\' C, died at 
Carrollton. A most beautiful summer da}-, with a cool 
breeze. A \'er\' bus\' da\' and one replete with incident. 
Breakfast on hard biead. salt pork, and coffee. Battle is 
expected momentarily ; tlie line was formed' several times, 
but we did not move. Skirmishing all day ; pickets <j;radually 
ad\'ancin<; ; cannonading <4()es on incessantly. ( )ne of the 
batteries in our brigade had fixe men wounded ; and another, 
which drew back at da\ii,i;ht for a brief respite, had three 
wounded, one of whom lost a leg and another an arm. 
Several shells struck and exploded in our front, but none of 
our men were hurt. The One Hundred and Seventy-seventh 
New York, while adxancing on picket duty in the night, ran 
into a batter)- and had four mei-i killed and four wounded. A 
major of (General Sherman's staff receixed a shot through 
the bod\- and dictl to-da\-. Company C, under Captain Lang, 
is again guarding the stores at 5 v. m. The thunder of 
Auger's hea\-y guns on our right rolls in continually. 

At 4 o'clock in the afternooi-i Major Aldrich assumes 
dut\- as held officer of the da\-, and is in chargv of the picket 
line along the front of (jcneral Dow's brigade. Several 
batteries moved forward at this time, and Companies A, E, 
(i, H, and K were acbanced one half mile through some 
woods to their support. Companies E and H remained here 
through the night ; they took position with the Sixth Michi- 
gan. When these batteries opened the enem)- replied with 
shell, grape, and solid shot ; the fragments rattled about like 
hail. 

One of the Sixth was severely wounded by a piece of 
shell ; it first cut off a large limb, and glancing struck him 
in the legs. One shell struck one of the wheels of a Ver- 
mont battery gun carriage, and exploding shattered it to 
fragments ; the spare wheel was immediately affixed and 
position changed. Then Conii)anies A, (i, and K are nio\ed 



320 The l-ifticutli .\c7i' llaiii/^shiir I'ohiittccrs. 

to tlic ri,i;lit in support of the ( )nc 1 1 undrcd and I'wcnt)- 
cii;hth New \'ork, wliich ad\anccd to burn a set of l)uildin.:;s in 
front, and which concealed the enem\ 's shari)sliooters. I'his 
was tlie Schalter house or Slaughter house, so-called from the 
name of its owner ; there was some musket ]•}■ tirim; here. 
Some wounded were l)rouL;ht hack in ambulances. These 
three companies laid iiere in the woods while the batteries 
shelled the enemw till almost dark, when the\' marched back 
for supi)er and then foi'ward into the woods a,L;ain. and 
remained all ni_i;ht. The bi-i,i;ade headc|uarters were now 
established just in reai' of the woods. (_"om|)an\- H to-day 
was on dut^• at Dow's head(|uarters. and this ni^ht a_i;ain 
•guarded militar)- stores and the sui)pl_\ ti"ain, with C'ompcuiy C\ 

( )vn" picket line has ,;;raduall\ achanced. followed close up 
b\- the besie^nini; forces. The enem\- are all now di-iven 
within their main works. ( )ur picket line is ei-ht miles loni;, 
extending; from the ri\er abo\e around ])ast the .Slau,L;'hter 
house and toward the ri\er iii .Xickerson's ti'ont, Init lea\ini;" 
a wide j^aj) between the ri\er and his Icit ; the pickets are 
stationed at interx'als of ti\e paces. 

Lieutenant-colonel lUair, who has been lost to sii;-ht for a 
lont;' time on account of illness, a]ipears now on duty aL;ain, 
and is ac~tin:L;' as tield officer of the da\ alon^; Nickei'son's 
front, his duties commencin:; at 4 v. m. I'he bo\ s ha\e not 
seen him before since the old drill da\s at Camp Parapet. 
lie is a mere shadow now. .Some of the boxs used to think 
him too se\ei-e at those times, but now the \alue of their 
discipline l)e,i;ins to appear. Colonel Kinsman, in those da}'s 
bein^ absent sick, the hard work of makin- soldiers of raw- 
recruits fell to him, and was bx him pi-oseculcd with his 
indefatigable ener,i;\ ; and theii- splendid condition was \er)- 
lar,L;el\' due to his elforts. When, howe\er, he succumbed to 
the fexer, Major .Xldrich took u]) the work, as has been 
shown, and certainh no colonel e\er had two nioie faithful 
lieutenants than the\. 



Annv Life at Port Hudson. 321 

SOMK IXCIDKXTS OI' llll': D.W, ICXTKACTS 1-R(».\1 DIAKIF.S, KTC, 
AXI) I'KKSOXAI. KK.MIXISCKXCK. 

Sergeant Brown, Company (i, relates that this day his 
company, with others, supported the Mrst X'erniont Battery, 
and while standing there in the line in the afternoon, he saw 
Colonel Kingman seat himself on the limb of a fallen tree, 
when a shell struck the log and following it \\\) threw a 
shower of splinters in all directions; the colonel hastily arose. 
It was a 6-inch conical shell, and went right on out of sight and 
hearing. lie relates, also, that this night Compan\'(i picked 
its way along till the}- met the enemy, and all could hear 
them talk and once they beat the long roll ; they could hear 
cuckoo calls of their sentinels during the night. 

Major Aldrich's diar\- sa}s : " l^rigade officer of dav after 
4 I". M. Out and on my feet all night to the grand guard. 
1^'iring all night b}- the adxance men ; they were mostly 
cool and calm. Shell from boats all night." 

Horatio B. h\)wler. Company V , says : " There was a piece 
of woods between us and the fortifications. Compan\' V , under 
Captain Ciordon, was sent into this wood in the afternoon in 
support of some batteries on the edge of the wood next the 
rebel works ; this was the first time Company F was under fire. 
The enemy shelled the wood and cut some branches which fell 
about rather careless, but the shot all went oxer our heads. 
That night I was placed on i)icket some fifty feet from a 
battery, and a shell took off a branch from a tree which fell 
directly on the gun nearest me, and the battery men had to 
take an axe and chop it up before they could remoxe it. 
Firing started up two or three times in the night with small 
arms, but nothing came of it. Comrade Cross was on the 

NoTK. It should he home in mind tliat events happeninjj at or near 
midnight are hy some accredited to tlie day hefofe and by others to the 
following day. thus in a few instances giving rise to seeming confusion. 



322 The J'iftcoitli Xciv llampsliiir \'oluntccrs. 

post with me, and no one comini^ to relicxc iis in the morn- 
ing, and having no rations or water and no ])ickel in sight, 
about noon wc went back, and learned the guard had l^een 
called in before light." 

A diar}- of Captain Sanborn, C"om])an)- H, sa)'s : •■ Now, 
on AIa\' 26, oiu' comj)an}' had the worst night on picket 
duty of an)- night during the siege, oi- any other company. 
The couipany was ordered out about 5 o'clock on the twenty- 
fifth on ])icket guard close in sight of the rebs' works. I 
saw the guns and men on the breastworks plain; saw three 
rebs come out the fort to recoimoitie. Just after dark mv 
companx' was dixided up into squads as pickets. Lieutenant 
Seavey, with ten men and one sergeant, went to the right on 
picket in front of the rebs' works ; Sergeant Burley, with 
ten men, a little to the left of the road ; Sergeant Philbrook 
(William II.), with three men, thrown out in advance picket ; 
the rest of our company, m}'self in charge, thrown out still 
farther to the left in a \alle}' near b)- the turn of the fence, 
at the edge of the o|)ening, in siglit of the breastworks, two 
of my men thrown forward on picket. Our folks planted a 
battery near by on oiu- right and conmienced shelling the 
rebel works about 10 o'clock at night ; the rebs rej^lied \ei'\' 
soon with two small guns and one hea\)' gim, supposed to be 
a /-inch shell. The firing continued at short inter\als all 
night, our shells going directh' into their woiks, theirs ])assing" 
over our heads doing but little damage but to cut down 
trees and bushes." 

Lieutenant Wyatt, Company H, says: " I was on duty at 
the advance picket line in command of m\- com])an\ a day or 
two before the assault. ( )ur men were hred u])on while 
being i)osted, and I lecollect that John (C.) Shcllc}' called out 
to me that he was wounded. On examination it appeared 
that the bullet was so nearl\ sjient — iierhai:)s had struck his 
gun first — that it onl\- passed thrcKigh his clothing and 



Anny Life at Port Hiidsoii. 323 

did not break the skin of the thigh where it struck, only 
lamed him a little, and the bullet was in his stocking. Can- 
nonading went on tliat night and we watclied the shells as 
they went over our heads." 

Sergeant Brown, Com]:)an)- (i, in his diary sa}s — this was 
about 4 o'clock v. m. : " We were ordered around to the 
right to support the ( )ne Hundred and Twenty-eighth New- 
York, skirmishing. Marched to the rear into the woods and 
then to the right, and were held in reserve. The object of 
the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth was to fire an old 
house that it might not shelter rebel sharpshooters. While 
we were waiting orders they succeeded ; we heard shouting, 
and soon after \olumes of smoke told us the thing was 
accom])lished. Sergeant Ayers and three men were sent 
forward for orders ; meanwhile we amused ourselves picking 
blackberries. A man was carried by badly wounded. Soon 
after we were ordered back to camp to get our rations, and 
then go on picket ; marched back and hardly had time to 
stack our guns and take off our ha\'ersacks when we were 
again ordered into the woods to repel an expected attack, 
(iot into line, but before reaching the woods we were again 
ordered back to camp. Ate our rations as soon as possible, 
but through the kindness of the colonel we were let off and 
another company detailed in our place. We built a little shanty 
of oak wood, which made us a fine shelter from the heavy 
dews ; turned in with our equipments on ; slept well, only 
being roused up (mce or twice by the batteries taking position. 
The colonel came by our shanty and told us that to-morrow 
we were to make an as.sault, or in his words, 'The ball will 
open.' " 

Reminiscence of Sergeant Ayers, Company G : " Company 
(i had an easy time Monday, the twenty-fifth, but on the 
twenty-sixth was called on duty again. A battery had taken 
position in front of Companies (j and A. Captain Osgood was 



324 JliL' I'iftccutit Xcw Hajiipslnrc Vo/n ulcers. 

in command of tlic two companies ; Lieutenant Pickering, 
Company A, in command of Company A ; Lieutenant Pick- 
ering, Company (i, in command of Company (i. Advanced 
to the battcrv to suj^jiort it. Captain Osgood and Sergeant 
Ayers sat on the ground, just behind one of the guns, leaning 
back against a tree— -a cottonwood sixteen inches in diameter. 
A shell came in that clipped the tree off six feet above their 
heads ; the tree dropped down behind. Colonel Cowles, of the 
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York had been ordered 
to bum the Schalter house, and the batter}' and its suj)- 
ports were instructed to assist in the moxement. To reach 
Colonel Cowles, went back a mile, and then halted ; Captain 
Osgood said, ' Sergeant Ayers, take four men, skirmish up 
through the woods, and find Colonel Cowles.' Ayers took 
\\. O. Xudd, ()li\er Lock, Charles Ihmtoon. and (leorge 
I'jnerson ; came to a trail and met one of (ieneral Dow's 
aids, a \ery light man, witli white moustache, waxed Xapoleon 
fashion. Ayers saluted him, and incjuired for Colonel Cowles. 
He said, ' I guess we can hnd liim.' We proceeded an half 
mile when we met Cowles coming back with his command, 
he haxing hrcd the buildings. There was firing from the 
enemy's musketr)'. Colonel Cowles ordered his men to 
co\er, and .\yers also ordered his to co\cr ; the\- took posi- 
tion behind trees. Cowles was mounted and gi\ing off his 
orders, but glancing round, saw Ayers, and said, ' \'ou 
sergeant of the i"ifteenth New Hampshire, get under coxer." 
Ayers saluted and said, ' I ha\e a xerbal re])oi-t fiom Captain 
Osgood, connnanding a detachment of Conijxuiies A and (i 
to re-enforce vou.' The colonel acknowledged m)- salute and 
said, ' What is it, sergeant .' We're exjiosed to tii'c here.' 
lust before re])orting, one of Cowles' men was killed only 
ten or twcKe feet awa\' ; and Cowles said, ' ihe work is all 
done, sergeant ; gi\e us }'our hand ; now get vmder co\er 
damned (|uick.' " 



Ajiny Life at Port If /ids on. 



125 



Reminiscence of Lieutenant Page, Company I^, May 26 : 
*' Was on duty on the }Mcket line on May 26 ; was moving 
up and down the line. I stopped and stooped by a tree to 
drink from a canteen which I had l}ing there on the ground, 
and while in the act recei\ed a shot from a rebel sharpshooter 
which cut through the collar of my blouse and shirt, but did 

NOTKS. Something from tlie enemy's side : At tlie approacli of our 
army tlie enemy removed several guns from the river front and mounted 
them on the breastworks. On the Iwentv-hrst of May, two smooth bore 
24-pounders were so removed, and on the twenty-second two 24-pounders, 
rifled; on the twenty-sixth three of these were dismounted by our fire, 
but their carriages weie lepaired and the guns mounted again that night. 
On the twenty-seventh, one 24-pounder was entirely disabled and two 
others dismounted ; on same day anotlier 24-pounder was removed from 
the river front to the Ijreastworks and work liegun on a carriage for a 
32-pounder navy gun, which in two days was in position. The Con- 
federate chief of ordnance reports that these guns during the siege were 
dismounted and remounted twenty-one times. At the same time a lo-inch 
Columbiad was dismounted and its carriage demoHshed to sucli extent 
that it required a week to rej^air it. Some of the ri\-er guns also were 
changed to pivot carriages, so as to be turned either on the land or river. 

In the affair of tlie twentv-fifth, in our front, at 6 o'clock in the evening, 
the Confederate commander. I.C. W. Steadman. reports the following 
losses : 



Killed. 


Wounded. 


Missing. 


Total. 


First Mississipiii 


1 




,s 


First Alabama 2 


S I 

5 ' 
I 


I I 

8 


Wino^field's Cavalr\' i 




Capt. A. J. Lewis' Company.. 
Capt. R. T. EngHsh's Company. 

Watson's IJattery 

Thirty-ninth Mississippi 

Totals i 5 

1 


•• 
4 


[ 


I 

5 


-5 


8 


3« 



326 'riic Fifteenth Xcio Hamf>s}iiir ]'o/?i)itccrs. 

not draw blood. At this time Aiken Ladderbush shot one of 
tlie enemy who came out over the parapet with a lot of can- 
teens ; he dropped him at loni;- i-ani;e. Lieutenant l'ai;e 
witnessed it. Sexeral ui the enemy came out and carried 
their comrade in." 

On the twenty-fiftli, Colonel .Miles, C. S. .A., commandinij in our 
(Fifteenth New Hampshire) tVont, reijorts to (General ( Jardner that at 
an interval of about two hours two athances ha\e been niafle on oiu" lines, 
the hrst b\- infantrv antl cavalrw and the second by cavali\ alone, both 
times in considerable force, and both times were driven hurriedlv back. 

XOTK. 

Hi:.\i)iUAKii:i<s l)i-.r.\Rr.\n;xT of Tur: diLi-. 

Rn.i:v"s, bki-oki-; Tort Hcdson, 

.May 26. 1863 — Xoon. 
Kkak .AoMurvL K.\KK.\(aT. C. S. Xmy, /■'hi^s/n'p Hartford: 

Adiiiiial: The ,i;eneral commandin<;' is at the front. 1 will loiward 
vour dispatch to him immediately. .Meanwhile 1 take the liberty of 
statini;- our position early this morning-. Sherman, on the left, in advance 
of the enem\"s hist line of ritle pits, ha\ ini; his |)icket at the front ed,<;e of 
a skirt of woods, st-parated from the enem\"s main line of wcirks by an 
open jilain. His position is in fiont of the schoolhouse. .\u!j,er next, on 
the road hom the Plains to I'ort Hudson, and well advanced. (boNei- on 
the Jackson railroad, holdin- the front ed.i^e of a wood, which is within 
two hundred oi- t'our liimdi-ed yards of tlu' ajipaient centie of the works, 
and in plain sii;lit and eas\ ran^e of them. Weit/.el. with his own 
i)ri!;ade, I)wi-ht's and I'aine's ( |-jTior\"s division) reduced to about a 
brigade, on the right, near where the telegraph roail from I'ort Hudson to 
liayou Sara crosses big Sandv Creek. 

This morning. e\erybody except Crox-er has closed up. and ('.rover 
cannot ckise up without taking tlu' works in trout ot him. 

'II1US the place is completeb inxested. 1 understand that the com- 
manding general's intention is to make the decisive attack to-morrow 
morning, but \\\)OW this ])oint I do not speak oliiciallv or decidedl), as 
everything, of course, depends upon circumstances, which an hour might 
totallv change. 

I have the honor to be, su'. with great respect, youi' most obedient 
servant, 

Rkii"i) 1>. Ikwin, 

. hs is taut . /(/>/.-( it: 11 . 



I 



An/ir Life at Port Hudson. 327 

Extract from report of si;;nal ofihcer. aboard the " Hartford," May 25 : 

••At 9 P. .M. of Saturday, March 14, tlie fleet in line of l)attle, 
by pairs and laslied together, advanced to run the gauntlet of the Port 
Hudson batteries. 

" After a gallant and stubborn fight, the 'Hartford" ( Farragufs flag- 
ship), and her consort, the 'Albatross,' succeeded and came to anchor at 
midnight above the fortifications and well out of range. 

" My efforts the next moiaiing to communicate with the unsuccessful 
ve.ssels below from the masthead were to no purpose — the interxening 
woods were too high. 

"At 10 A. M. we sailed lor Red River and \'ickslnirg. Had a sharp 
engagement at Grand Ciulf, on the nineteenth, and five separate engage- 
ments with the VVarrenton liatteries, from March 20 to March 30. 

"On the fifteenth of April, the ' Hartford" steameil down within view 
of Port Hudson and anchored. I immediately opened communication 
with the ' Richmond,'' distant by river ten miles, in air line six miles. 
Here signal station had been raised to a lieight of 160 feet: m\ station 
was 135 feet high. 

" U. S. S. Hartford signal station in communication with Bayou -Sai^a 
station, Ma\- 25, 7.30.1. m. 'Where is Cieneral Weitzel?" ' He has just 
passed here.' 'How long since?" 'About two hours ago. Weit/el's 
brigade is here. He passed to the front himself with an aid this morning 
at 6." 'Who are vou?" 'Dana; "tis ver\- smoky; use large flag. I 
leave soon with Weitzel's brigade. Hall remains here." ' Would 1 were 
with thee I the guns of the armv seem to be shelling Port Hudson. '"■ 

" 3.05 P. .M., .Ma\- 26. 
" Coimnodorc Palmer to Admiral Farragnf : 

'(irierson's cavalrv has captured the two steamers in Thomjjson's 
creek." 

' Can't you read well ? ' 

' It is very windv and shakes us.'" 

" Commodore Palmer to iie/ieral Hanks : 

• A lieutenant of (Irierson's cavah'v is here, and says the enem_\- cannot 
escape across Thompson's creek and between Fancy point and the ri\er. 
Thev must take the l>avou Sara road if they escape at all. Should you 
wish me to fire again at night in the direction indicated in your note, 
throw up a rocket half an hour before 1 am to begin. Send me the 
news." "" 

" Earlv moining. May 27. 
" Ila/iks to Palmer : 

• The liglit artillery opens at daylight, the heavy at 6 .\. m. Port Hud- 
son will l)e ours to-da\-. The shi])s will cease firing when the artillery 
ceases." "■ 



32<S The Fiftccntli Xci^' Ilanipsliiir I'oluntccrs. 

Ma\" 2"] was a \'cr_\- hcauliful (law The face of nature 
never shown more kiiulh' down. It is hiL;!"! summer now, 
and tliere is an indescribable freshness and beaut\' in the 
tro]Mcal i;reen wood where lie thousands all armed and pano- 
])lied in i^litteriiii; steel and the habiliments of war. Nature's 
secret and actinic loices are wondrous bus}' ; birds twitter 
and flash their wini;s in the branches ; m}-riads of the little 
chamelions dart e\ei"\where, and the bus\' bee, all unmindfid 
of human strife, ])lies his trade from Ifower to Howei' ; there 
is an incessant hummini; of wini^ed creatures. It is a day of 
blood. h'rom the earliest dawn, till ni_i;ht fell on the scene, 
the woi'k of death went on. It was the commanding-general's 
purpose to make a concerted mo\"ement on the enenn's 
works, but in this unity of action he si<(nally failed, and it 
ma\ be, thereb}' suffered disaster and defeat. The Third 
division, undei" (ieneral Paine, in which were ele\en regi- 
ments and three batteries, achanced to the attack just at 
daybreak. ( )n them the enemy were free to concentrate 
their fire, and the\- suffered immediate check but \et advanced 
to the very face of the parapet. The loss in this division is 
officiallv rejDorted as 1 1X4 killed, S80 woumled, and 116 
cai)tured and missinj; ; total, 1 , 1 So. The hai;hth New 
Hampshire was in this dixision, and lost in killed, four officers 
and twent_\--si\ men; in wounded, sexen officers and 191 
men ; captui"ed and missim;, two officers and twent\-ei,i;ht 



NoTi;. Kcpoit (,f W. K. MiKs. C. S. .\.. .May 27. lixtiact : 
" .Alxiut half an hour l)\- sun this niorniiii; the' rnciiiv opened an infernal 
tire on our lines. With occasional lulls the lire continued till about l 
V. M., when I learned the eneniv had t'ornied in line of battle and was 
advancing; on (Ieneral iSeall's centre and left. Without waitinj,^ for oHicial 
notification, i at once pushed t'oiward to his sujjport every man 1 could 
spare. .My men had hardh L;ot their |)osition when the enemy o])enecl 
fire, advancin.ii with infantiyand artillery. lie was npulsed three several 
times, and has now retired. I am holdini; the field. (Ieneral Healfs 
forces Iiavinii s^^one to the left (to nieel .\uiier"s charge?)." 



Ar;/n' Life at Port Hudson. 329 

men ; total, 258. Se\cral, and anioni; them some from the 
Eighth, either surged o\er the parapet or readied a point so 
close as to l)e ordered in, and were held prisoners to the 
close of the siege. 'J'his, of the hjghth New Hami)shire, 
was far the ]Tea\icst loss suffered by an_\' single regiment 
during the day, in jM-oportion to the numbers engaged. The 
division of the besieging army on the extreme right ad\anced 
to the assault at about 10 .\. m., and were likewise met by a 
concentrated and murderous hre and mercilessl}' shot down ; 
this division lost 150 in killed, and 660 wounded and missing, 
b}' official re])ort. 

The eneni)', now exultant and flushed with \ietor)', cease 
tiring, and hing quietly concealed behind the works, con- 
hdenth' await e\ents. With their achantages one of their 
men is ec|ual to sexeral of ours, and I think it is held to be a 
maxim of war, that such works as these are nexer carried by 
direct assault when manned with proper spirit. 

Thev watch the preparations going on in Sherman's division, 
in the first brigade of which is the Fifteenth New Hamp- 
shire, and which di\ision, with Nickerson's brigade on its 
left, forms tlie extreme left ol the l^nion army. Sherman, 
aware now of the lack of unit)' of action, yet having laid his 
plans with great skill, soon after noon personall}' leads his 
column to the assault. 

Six companies only of the l-'ifteenth Regiment were in the 
charging column — H, C, V, (i, H, and I ; A, D, \i, and K 
were detached, and we will now follow them and show their 
position and the ])art the}' enacted during the day. 

Com.panies D and K, on the evening of the t\\ent}'-sixth, 
were sent forward as skirmishers, and were in the woods all 
night without sleep till just at daybreak — 4.30 o'clock — 
when they were advanced double cpiick, under Captain John- 
son, across an open sj^ace into a ]:)iece of woods in front. (See 
mai^.) In passing this open space, through a corn held, they 



330 The I'lftcoitli Xcic Hainpshiir I'ohiiitccrs. 

received a showci-of bullets, and shot, and sliell. L'pon tlieii- 
advance tliis ])iece (jf woods was cleared of tlie cneim's 
pickets. W'heii tluTc (leneral Dow ordered Johnson to 
adxance both companies throuj^li the woods into a slashin,-" in 
front, wldch extended for a tHstance ol three hundred \ards. 
They made their wa\' through for one half this si)ace b\' crawl- 
ing on hands and knees, and firing whenexei- one of the enemy 
showed his head, and especiall\- on the enemy's gunners ; 
they could see the dust H\- when their bullets grazed the toj) 
of the para]xn. At this point, midwa}' of the slashing, they 
remained till noon ; the\- then receixed orders to skirmish 
still turther ahead, which the\' did under a hea\\' tire, but 
were well concealed b\' the fallen timbei". Here at 2 o'clock 
General Xickerson's brigade charged the enenn 's works, and 
with them C'ajjtain Johnson, with Companies 1) and 1-] 
deployed on .\ickei"son's left, reachctl a ])oint within tift\- 
yards of the enenn's parajK't, but wei"e then met with such a 
shower of shot and shell, grape and cannister, and shrapnel, 
that it was impossible to go tuither. The Zouaxe regiment 
■ — the ( )ne Mundied and Si.\t\-hfth New \'ork - was in this 
charge under Xickerson, and was \er\' baclh' cut u|\ These 
C()m])anics, under Johnson, skirmished through the slashing 
to a m(;re achanced ])osition than was attained b\' an\' portion 
of Xickerson's column. Captain Johnson, being the I'anking 
ca]:)tain, was in connnand of the two companies as a bat- 
talion ; Lieutenant C'hatlwick connnanded Compaiu 1), 
Caj^tain .Steai'iis and Lieutenant Parker were in c-omniand of 
Com])an\- |{ ; the\- tirew off at night. In this affair C'ompan) 
1) suffered no loss except that one — Chaiies A. Hrown — 
receixed a sexere baxonet wound in the leg: of Companx' V., 
Ca])tain .Stearns receixed injuries in the breast, from which 
he nexer recoxered, hicob I. Whit temoie xxas sexereh' 
wounded in the lighl fool, Isaac \andx ke xxas sexerel)' 
wounded in the face, and at 3.30 o'cloek the lamented Sergt. 
l'"ernando I'arkei- xxas killed b\- a >hell. 



Aiiiiv Life at Port LIudson. 331 

It will be obscr\ccl that these moxemcnts were on the left 
of the l^attle-tield, and were for the purjiose ot keejMni; the 
enemy down by sharpshooting", and to piek off their gunners 
while the main assault was made just to their right. 

Major Aldrich was brigade otTieer of the da\' from 4 o'eloek 
of the afternoon of the twent\-si\th. His dutv was to post 
and advance the pickets along the front of Dow's brigade as 
far as could be, and meet and connect with those of the 
besiegers ad\'ancing from the Havou Sara route, and also 
with the pickets of General Nickerson to the left. The last 
])icket was stationed to the right of the Schalter house, and 
the unbroken line of se\en or eight miles completed just at 
daybreak. The work was \ery exacting and laborious ; the 
Jackets were adxanced in the darkness through the dense 
woods and stationed in the edge of the slashing fronting the 
enemy's parapet, which was in i^lain \iew as daylight broke. 
There was a constant exchange of shot with the enem)'s 
pickets. Now, just at daylight, as the major stationed his 
last picket, he spoke with one on the next station, who 
immediately shouted to him to "look out," when both 
dropped, and the blue streak of a shell passed exacth- through 
the spot where the major was standing. The ])icket said, " 1 
thought sure it had killed you." 

And now Company K, imder Mall and Larkin, and com- 
pany A, under Lieutenant Pickering, Caj^tain Cogswell, him- 
self a sick man, having been sent with the sick down river, 
reported to Aldrich, and In' him were advanced through the 
woods abo\'e the Schalter house and into the slashing beyond 
the picket line as sharpshooters. (See maj).) The)- went as 
far as the}' could find cover, and were ordered to fire on all 
signs of life in Port Hudson, and to silence all rebel guns, 
and to hold their ground at all hazards. With them were 
stationed also Companies A and C" of the One Hundred and 
'rwent\-eiuhth Xew York. 



332 The Fifteenth Xew Hampshire \'oln)iteers. 

It tluis aj^jjcars tlial ])rcliminar\ lo the chars;'e all available 
l)()ints. both to the rii^lu ami left of tlie battle-field, were filled 
with sharpshooters and rifienien w liose orders were to keep the 
enemy down and silence all their batteries while the charge 
took i^lacc. This picket line on the rii;ht was established 
within four huneh-cd \ai'ds of the rebel works. The position 
of tlic riticmcn, tliou^li tlieir loss was \<i\\ liL;ht, was one of 
great acti\ it\- and peril ; there were many narrow escapes and 
incidents of great interest. From the concealed position 
behind logs and stiini]:)s and in the brush thc\ were \igilant, 
and nothing moxed e.\cei)t it receixed theii- sliots. It was very 
effective, and man\- of the enemv fell at their hands ; the 
guns were silenced. Toward the close the brush in front of 
Companies A and K took fire and smoked them out ; they 
drew off at night. Lieutenant-colonel l^lair, ha\ ing lost by 
fire all his war pa])ers, we find no mention of him whatever 
in an\- data at hand fiom late in March till this da\' of battle ; 
l)ut a stray letter shows tliat he succumbed to the usual 
climatic fex'cr on March 21, and was unable for further dutx' 
till the sailing of the arm\- for Port Hudson on May 20, and 
then he was \er\ much enfeebled. h'rom nearly the time of 
the landing at C'airolltou till thus stricken, during the pro- 
longed illness of Colonel Kingman, the lieutenant-colonel was 
in full command of the regiment, and it was through his 
indefatigable labors that it was brought to its high state of 
dist-ipline, recei\ing. as has alreach been shown, the highest 
encomiums from the inspecting officei-s. This work was \er_\- 
arduous, and there were those who tieemcd it unnecessaril)' 
so ; but later all became interested in their duties, and there 
gi"ew up a laudable pride in their at-hie\ement, and an ambi- 
tion to e.xcel ; am! honor to the man who held them up to 
their woik so untiinchingh has incieased as the \ears ha\e 
])assed. This disi-ipline told on i)arade and e\er\ where — in 
the trendies ami on thci)ickct line and ma\- well be said to 



Annv Life at Port Hudson. 333 

have been the only trainini;- foi life receixecl by man}- of the 
school-bo)'s under his chai'i^e. Hut his zeal is such that nothing- 
can keep him behind except total disability or death. 1 le sails 
with the regiment, and during- the night of the t\vent\-si\th 
and morning and forenoon of the t\vent)--se\enth, he acts as 
held officer of the day on the extreme left, and is bus\' along 
the picket line in (ienei-al Nickersoi-i's front, seeing much of 
General Dow somewhere about the \icinit}' of Companies D 
and I{, and does not take his position as lieutenant-colonel 
with the regiment till the last moments before the final 
charge. 

Companies A and K having been thus stationed, Major 
Aldrich, making a wide detour around the Schalter house, 
worked his way to the left to communicate with the j^ickets 
at that i)oiiit, keeping out of sight of the enem_\' in the edge 
of woods, but all the time within rifle shot. On reaching a 
point where the main colunin stood in waiting, just in the 
shelter of the woods fronting the Schalter house, he passed 
the First X^ermont Battery — the gra}' horse batter)-. It 
consisted of six steel Parrot guns of two and nine-tenths 
caliber — 12-pounders — under Capt. (ieorge T. Hebard ; 
they carried a pointed conical shot or shell. Major Aldrich 
was accosted by the captain, who showed him one of his 
disabled guns ; it was dismounted with its wheels smashed. 
Several of the wounded batter}- bo\-s lay around it, having 
receivcd their wounds when the gim was struck. Me said, " I 
have been trying long to locate the gun that did that." It was 
a masked gun under a tree an halt mile awa}' ; he could see 
the smoke of it. His battery was firing briskly with alternate 
solid shot and shell ; the captain now sent in a solid shot for 

NOTK. During I>lair"s protracted illness. Afajor Aldrich was in the 
saddle at drill and parade, as the diary of events shows, and was a very 
efificient olTficer and well fitted by nature to complete the work which iilair 
had so well advanced. 



334 ^ 1"^ Fifteenth Xei^' Hanif>sJiire W^lunteers. 

the masked i;un, and instantly as the lan)ard was pulled, he 
iumjjed on the p^un-carria^e and watched through his glass ; 
he thix'w up his hands and shouted, " We've got it." His 
men ga\e a great cheer. He said. " I saw it go end over 
<iw(\." It ne\cr fired again.* 

At noon the major rc])orted hack to headquarters, hut 
the\- had now disap}x-ared. He then sought the regiment, 
and saw in passing, in the woods near the Schalter house, the 
musicians assembled under h'rost, of Company K, and with 
quantities of stretchers, awaiting the blood}' work in hand. 
While here a rebel shell struck a limb off a ])rostrate giant 
oak at his side. He was here informed that the brigade had 
gone to the left, and now on looking that wa)' he saw it 
coming back ; he met them, and took his iiosition as major on 
the left of the line, and sharetl the fortunes of the regiment 
for the rest of the daw 

Now we will return to the main colunm, and follow its 
movements. Cannonading became \er\' brisk at da\light, 
without eliciting much response till two or three hours later. 
In the earl\' morning Companies H. C, i. and H had been 
ordered to fall in with the TwentN-si.xth Connecticut to 
support a batter}-, which was firing twcnt}' shots per minute ; 
their shells sound like a distant train ot cars. At 7.30 
o'clock the}- await oi'dcrs to moxe, and iiow the eneni}- open, 
and shot and shell fall thick all around. .At 9, haxing been 
joined b} Comi)anies C and 1-", were drawn u[) in line of 
battle. At 10.30 advanced half way through the intervening 
wof)ds toward the Schalter house. At 12.15 the column was 
formed as follows : 

* NoTi:. Majdr Aldrich, after the surrender, sou^lit out this !,^un. It 
was a 6-incli <(iin, affixed to a log and mounted on a carriage. Tiiere was 
a big dent in the muzzle, a portion of which was sjjlit ott'. Tlie gun liad 
been completely summensaulted, and its l)ore was knoci<ed out t)t' round. 



A nil]' Life- at Port Hudson. 335 

Sixth Michigan, afterwards re-enforced with xohmteers 
from the Fifteenth New Hampshire, advance guard. 

Fifteenth New Hampshire, Colonel Kingman. 

Twenty-sixth Connecticut, Colonel Kingsley. 

One Hundred and TwentN-eighth New \'()rk, Colonel 
Cowles. 

This puts the Mfteenth at the real head of the charging 
column, with the Sixth Michigan, who were few in numbers, 
and their auxiliaries from our regiment advanced as skir- 
mishers. 

The regiments formed in column four rods apart. 

These dispositions having been made, the entire brigade 
moved by the left flank in the screen of the woods, and 
emerging, crossed the ojx-n which Companies D and E had 
crossed in the early morning, and halted behind the wood in 
front of which Companies D and E were placed as sharp- 
shooters. Here it was that volunteers were called from our 
regiment to join the Sixth Michigan to lead the advance. 
Captain .Sanborn, Company H, and his lieutenants, and nearly 
the full company, stepped forward in a body ; the}' could 
not, however, be accepted, as the design was not to further 
deplete the regiment by full companies, but to take two or 
three from each. The following were accepted : 

From Company \\, Justus B. Penniman, mortally wounded, 
and Aiken Ladderbush. 

NoTK. Some have questioned the position of the Fifteenth Regiment 
in the charging column of May 27, but your historian clearly remembers 
it as stated above ; and its accuracy is confirmed by the report of Colonel 
Kingsley of the Twenty-sixth Connecticut. 

Official Records, series i, vol. 26, part i , page 123. No. 19. Extract: 
"The first line was formed by the Sixth Michigan, the second by the 
Fifteenth New Hampshire, the third ])y the Twenty-si.xth Connecticut, the 
fourth by the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York. 

CoL. Thomas G. Kingsley, 

Twenty-sixth Connecticut." 



336 The Fiftccutli ,\>7i' Haiiipsliiir I'olimtccrs. 

From Company C, Isaac Smith, mortal!} wouiulcd ; Cicorj^e 
W. Bailey, Dan. B. (ia^-c, and John C". Iniller, killed ; Ben. 
l-5aile}-, wounded; and Moodx' I lowland, icccixcd shot in left 
cheek and on arm. 

h^iom C"ompan\' (i, 1 )a\ id K. Xudd and lJa\id S. Id use. 

I-"rom ComjiauN' H, W. I. C"obui"n, wounded; John Thorn- 
ton, wounded ; and Tom Brown. 

T'rom C(jmpan\' I, John Alahone), wounded sexerely ; wound 
ne\er healed, and was the cause of his death March 10, 1879 ; 
and Abner Morse, killed.* 

These were immediately attached to the Si.xth Michigan ; 
thus many more responded for this perilous serxice than were 
rec[uired. When these xolunteers were assembled, a .Sixth 
Michigan officer, who was in comniand, e.\]dained to them that 
the\' were to carry matei'ial and bridge the ditch in front of 
the enemy's ])arapet so as to permit the passage of infantr)- 
and artiller_\- ; the method of its work and its dangers were 
full\- explained. It looked as though our general contem- 
plated a dash from this ]^oint upon the battle-field ; b\' 
moxing the column as it now stood 1)\' the right Hank a little 
more than the length of its front and then achancing, it 
would ha\e been on the field almost in an instant. Hut 
instead, now it marched back b}' a diiect loute across the 
open held to the position in the woods, where it stootl at 6 
o'clock. (.See map). I'pon emei-ging fiom behind the shelter 
of the clump of woods (at 7 on map), the enenu o])ened with 
their artillery, and ours now replying with all its force, the 
woi-ld shook with their thunders, and the enemy's hre 
wrought terrific haxoc in the woods to our right. .Shells 
Clacked incessanth' in the air o\er our heads ; the elexation 
was high, howexer, and few of the charging column were 
injured. 'This appears to ha\e been a mo\ement for the 

* NoTi:. (ircat cl'tdrts \\.\\v hern madr to ascertain tlic nanu-s of all 
tlu'sc- VdhmtL'CTs, l.ut witluml cnmpli'tc sucrrss. 



Anuy Life at Port Hudson. ■^■^y 

purpose of drawing the enemy's fire, and thus lead them to 
expose themselves to our many sharpshooters posted in the 
slashing to right and left, as has been already explained. As 
such, the ruse was entirely successful. Companies A and K, 
under Hall and Pickering and Lieutenants Wood and Larkin 
and Sergeant Gordon, of Company A, who acted as second 
lieutenant during the siege, and the New York boys on the 
right, and Companies D and K on the left, under Johnson 
and Chadwick, and Stearns and Parker, poured in their well- 
directed shots with terrible effect on the enemy's gunners. 

And now, having again reached the position where first 
the charging column was formed and just within the leafy 
screen, the enemy's artillery fire ceased and that death-like 
silence ensued, which precedes the battle. The X'ermont 
battery moves forward down the front of the P'ifteenth and 
so close as to necessitate a backward dress of the regi- 
ment, which movement, in being executed, led to the acci- 
dental discharge of Hiram Welch's (Company I) gun, stripping 
his arm from elbow to shoulder. Some teams now drive up 
loaded with heavy poles ; negroes shoulder them, two to 
each, and are placed in front of the skirmish line. Those 
who volunteered from our regiment are each provided with a 
2-inch plank a toot wide and about four feet long, the design 
being to force the negroes up to the face of the enemy's 
parapet, and compel them to lay the poles across the ditch in 
front, the plank carriers then to lay on their planks, and so 
bridge over. It is doubtful if over 250 men of our regiment 
stood now in line and actually advanced upon the field ; and 
at the very last moment the color sergeant whispers to the 
color guard that the colors will take position on the line of 
the line officers in rear of the guard, and that the guard will 
remain in the ranks. It thus happened that the color guard 
went into the action several paces in front of the colors, 
which it was their special purpose to protect and defend. 
22 



33i> The I'iftcoith Xci^' llanipshirc Volunteers. 

There is a brief wait here. The enemy in mir front are 
ominously silent, l^ut sucklenh' the bugle call is sounded, 
(jenerals Sherman and Dow and staffs, splendidly mounted, 
ride to the head, in front of the Fifteenth New Hampshire 
and between it and the achance guard. General Dow 
wheeled his horse and gaxe his order in the same old 
manner as on the i)arade at Carrollton : " Attention, brigade ! 
forward. Sixth Michigan ; forward. Fifteenth New Hamp- 
shire ; forward, Twenty-sixth Connecticut ; forward. One 
Hundred and Twent}'-eighth New \'ork — Marcli ! " The 
column moves, and instantly emerges from the wood, when 
the enemy's artillery reopens with tremendous power ; the 
"gray horse " battery, lashed to its utmost fury, dashes upon 
the field to the left and pours its thunder in with a deafening 
roar. As soon as free from the woods double quick is ordered, 
and in a moment we are in rifle range, and the enemy's 
parapet for more than a mile to right and left bursts forth in 
one unbroken sheet of flame, all concentrated on our front. 
Our centre comes directly upon the burned Schalter house ; 
the smouldering ruins here lie thick upon the ground ; they 
constitute an impassable obstacle. The regiment breaks in 
the centre to jxiss the obstacle, the right wing striking into 
the woods beyond the Schalter house, and the left wing 
breaking in much confusion and under a terrific fire to the 
left, over the liigh fences of tlie Hower garden in front and 
across it, meeting and surmounting the oj^posite fence, then 
instantly into a tortuous and tangled ravine, and on to the 
field, now directh' under the murderous musketr}- fire that 
mows down all in winrows and thickh' c-oxers tlie ground with 
the dead and dying. The extreme left did not strike the 
ravine, but kej^t on even ground. The alignment is now lost, 
and confusion reigns supreme. Col. Kingman led his regi- 
ment in, and is with the right wing, which struck the 
large raxine after passing the Schalter house, and reached an 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 339 

advanced position, but from which all efforts to scale the 
enemy's works proved futile. All order is gone, and the 
men act individually, each loading and firing and watching 
opportunity. But that portion of the regiment that passed 
the Schaltcr house on the left, with other l^roken organiza- 
tions, is a surging and utterly disorganized mass, in the very 
vortex of hell. Here Blair rages up and down, calling and 
swinging his sword for a rally ; his scabbard is torn away ; and 
soon he receives a shot through the right arm near the 
shoulder, that fells him to the ground, but for a moment only. 
He grasps his sword in his left hand ; three different times he 
rallies a brave few, but who melt and wither away, and all is 
hopelessly lost. All now seek shelter, some few behind logs 
or stumps on the field, but most sliding off to the right into 
the big ravine which runs straight up and into the enemy's 
works. The enemy send up a great shout of victory, and 
thus closes the fight. The men make their way off from the 
field at dark, and assemble and pass the night at the edge of 
the beech woods back of the Schalter house. 



340 



The Fifteenth Xez^< Hampshire ]\)/iinteers. 



In-cidents of Tin: Ixmtij-: and Personal Mention. 

The Sixth Michigan, with its re-enforcements of volunteers 
from the Fifteenth, marched by the right flank in cokmin of 
fours to the right of the Schalter house, and thence deployed 
upon the tielcl just in advance of the column headed by the 
Fifteenth New Hampshire. They lost 20 killed and 129 
wounded, which was probably about a third of their number. 




SEROT. FEK.N.\M 




IS.V.VC V.VNDVKi:— c 



The fate of the Twcnty-si.xth Connecticut was very similar 
to that of the l''ifteenth. They lost, by official report, 15 
killed, 160 wounded, and 1 missing or cajitured. 

The ( )ne Ilundietl aiul ^went^•-eighth New \'ork moved 
on in fine style, but all was lost before thcn\ and Colonel 
Cowles fell instanth' dead on the held. The regiment lost, by 
official report, 23 killed, lOO wounded, and 6 missing or 
caj^tured - - i 29. 

Of the 250 men of the I'"ifteenth \e\v Hampshire in the 
charging column, 21 were killetl or fatail\- injured, and 148 
wounded, so far as can be ascertained. ( )f the four companies 
detailed, i was killed — I'ernando Parker- -and ^ wounded. 



An/iy Life at Port Hudson. 341 

Extract from report of Capt. Francis F. Keese of the 
One Hundred and Twenty-eiLjhth New York : " Under com- 
mand of Col. D. S. Cowles, we moved to the charge about 
2.10 p. M., the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth being the 
rear regiment of the brigade. The whole regiment, except 
Companies A and C, was in the fight ; these two companies 
were deployed on the right as sharpshooters. * * * 

Colonel Cowles boldly led forward his regiment in the face of 
a galling fire, and after General Sherman, yourself (Dow), and 
Clark of the Sixth Michigan, were wounded, the command of 
the brigade fell upon him. He was mortally wounded while 
rallying his men and died upon the field." 

General Dow fell very early in the fight, and Colonel 
Clark of the Sixth Michigan was borne from the field ; 
Colonel Cowles was instantly killed almost the moment he 
reached the field ; Colonel Kingsley, of the Twenty-sixth 
Connecticut, after the repulse, rushed forward, and taking a 
position behind a log, with others fired on the works like a 
private soldier until he received a shot through his jaw, from 
which blood gushed in torrents.* And thus every ranking 
general and field officer fell within a very few moments, 
either killed or wounded, down to our own Colonel Kingman, 
whose course in the fight will now be followed. 

I think I have already stated that Colonel Kingman led his 
regiment into the fight. After the repulse he was close to 
the front, in the ravine, and watching events ; noticing a large 
fallen log on the opposite sid^ he directed some of his men 
to take position in its shelter and open on the enemy's 
artillery. Their battery — No. 32 — which enfiladed the 
ravine, and which had been pouring in grape and canister, 
was thus silenced. Among the twenty or thirty who took 

* Note. VV. I. Cobuni, of Company H, was firing beside Colonel 
Kingsley when Kingsley received his wound. 



342 TJw Fifteenth .AVti- Hampshire Volunteers. 

part ill this ruse were Lieutenants Seavey, Perkins and 
Larkin, Sergt. Fred A. Orme and John Beecher, Company 
I, Irving Coombs, Comjjany H, Corporal I3avis, Al. Pressey, 
A. George, and Hen. Brown, Company K, and Sergeants 
Trickey and Nudd, Com])any I. Colonel Kingman joined 
Blair in one of his attempts to rally the men, coming from a 
position near the edge of the ra\ine. He swung his sword 
and shouted, " Up! men, and at them ! " Observing a move- 
ment of the enemy inside, he shouted, " Rally ! the devils are 
running!" They were moving to their left to meet Auger. 
The attempt, howe\er, failed. But the colonel was kept 
busy, for soon after, the enemy essayed three different times 
to sally over the parapet and capture the five or six hundred 
men who were close up to them in the ravine ; they came out 
iu four ranks and in gallant style. Colonel Kingman ordered 
his men to hold their fire till he gave the word, and at his 
command the\' fired by volley, and the enemy fell back with 
hea\T loss. At one time a rebel flag appeared inside at a 
distance that looked like the stars and stripes. Colonel 
Kingman said, " They have got in on the right ! "' It was 
now just at night, and fearing this very .sally, our batteries in 
the rear had opened, after the reinilse and all was seen to 
be lost, a terrific cannonade, firing low and directly o\er the 
heads of those on the held and in the ravine. This firing 
was terriblv annoying and somewhat destructive to our own 
men, but it is very doubtful if the enemy could ha\e been 
held within except for its ]:iowerful assistance. Just at dark 
the colonel said, " \'ou wait riglit here, keeji a sharj) watch, 
and if they show themsehes again, do just as you ha\e cJDne; 
take good aim and siioot to kill. 1 will go back and have 
our batteries cease tiring, so you can come out." He went 
back, and alter aii hour the hring ceased. It was now dark, 
and the men made their wa\- back. Corporal McCiregoi- well 
remembers this artiller\- tiring. The mighty bolts swept o\er 



Annv Life at Port Hudson. 343 

us point-blank as \vc hugi^ed the ground ; it seemed as 
though putting up one's hand would reach them. Occa- 
sionally one of them burst prematurely among our own men. 
It was a curious fact that just at the distance where he lay 
the sound and the shot arrived precisely together with a 
snap and a crash, and then with a prolonged unearthly 
shriek sped on its bloody errand. His right ear was deafened 
at the time, and has never recovered its hearing. 

Of this I. \V. Coombs says : " I had gone forward with 
the rest of the troops away up past the Schalter (commonly 
called 'slaughter') house, and while pressing on suddenly 
found myself pretty nearly alone. The only ones I saw in 
ad\'ance of me were Sam. Swain, and another soldier whom I 
did not know, who was lying down behind a log. and I saw 
him fire toward the rebel line from that position. Imme- 
diately after he clapped his hand to his arm, looked back 
toward the rear, and swore. I think he must have been 
wounded by some of our own men, for it seems to me he 
could not have been hit by the rebs. Sam. Swain was looking 
toward the rebel line, and very soon took aim and fired. In 
a few seconds he dropped his gun and placed his hand to his 
forehead. He did not fall, though he seemed dazed a little. 
I heard afterward that he was struck by a buckshot. 

"Just after that I heard Colonel Blair's voice trying to 
rally the men. I turned to him (he was standing some eight 
or ten paces to my left and rear) and saw him with his right 
arm in a sling, his left holding his sword at the shoulder. He 
was looking directly toward the ravine on our right. I turned 
in that direction and saw Colonel Kingman coming from 
behind a clump of bushes on the edge of the ravine. He 
drew his sword and cried, • Up ! boys, and at them ! ' But 
none of the soldiers responded. There was nothing to be 
gained, of course, by standing thiW^, and they were shooting 
to kill. I got a bullet through my blouse just above the 



344 ^/''^' l'[ft(^i^'^i^fi ^^Vzt' Ilanipsliiir J'o/iiii/cos. 

cartridge belt on the left side, and another (or else a buckshot) 
struck the rii;ht edi^e of the top of my cap. Colonel l^lair, 
as I recollect it, turned to i;o toward the rear, and I passed 
over the edi^e of the ravine, which I had not noticed before. 
I found quite a number of fellows wounded there. Pretty 
soon alony came an officer (I didn't know him) ; he was 
quite a large and rather flesh}- man. He was mad and swear- 
ing;-, and I think somewhat under the influence of lic|uor. He 
ordered the men up out of the raxine, and threatened to 
shoot one of the men, but the man replied, ' I am wounded.' 
He had been shot in the leg. The officer passed on down 
the ra\-ine toward the rebel line. Soon after, I followed him 
apiece, then looked across the ravine and saw some soldiers 
(some twenty or thirty, I should judge). I crossed the ravine 
to get to them, and just as I was getting to the top of the 
ra\-ine Lieutenant Sea\'ey or Perkins said to me, ' Rush 
quick! They've got the range.' Seavey and Perkins were 
the only commissioned ofificers there. We were all sheltered 
by a large log l}'ing ]jarallel with the rebel line. After a 
while Seavey left the men untler Perkins' coniniand sa}iiig, 
' I am going back to see the colonel.' He was gone quite a 
while, and then came back saying that he had seen Kingnian, 
who told hini to hold the position, if i^ossible, till night, but 
that if he was not reinforced b)' S o'clock he might with- 
draw the men under co\er of the darkness. We were not 
reinforced, and left when it was dark. I was off dutv sonie 
ten or twcKe da)s, then tried to go on duty again (work on 
fortifications), but broke down and was ordered bac'k to 
quarters by Surgeon Jan\rin. On June 14, 1 was with the 
men detailed as pioneers on the thirteenth. In regard to the 
matter of rallies, about which }-ou int|uire, I know nothing 
al)out an\, e.\ce|)t what 1 haxe spoken of. I lia\e heartl it said 
that three attenipts or rallies were made. I think that Lieu- 
tenaiils Sea\-e\- and Perkiiis. and the men with them, reached 



Aniiy Life at Port H/idst 



545 



as advanced a position as was reached that day. Vou can 
judge, perhaps, from the accompanying diagram. It of 
course is only a rough sketch, and points and distances can 
be only approximately correct. Figures represent as follows: 

Enemy's Parapet. 



7 6 
5 
3 4 



^ 



Lo: 



ist Vt. Battery. i 



1. Where regiment formed for the 5. 

assembly. 6. 

2. Schalter house. 7. 
3 and 4. Positions of Kingman and 8. 

Blair when attempting to rally 
the men. 



Where I stood. 
Where Sam. Swain stood. 
Soldier behind log. 
Position of Lieutenants Seavey 
and Perkins and men. 



346 The Fifteenth Xeio Hampshire ]\^Iunteei's. 

Reminiscences of Lieutenant-colonel Blair: 

" I remember that the last rall\- at Port I ludson was led 
b)' me after I was wounded and m}- ai"m sIuul; up so that I 
could traxel with it. When we tinalh' tailed, I remember 
beini;- assisted, under the protection of the ra\ine, from the 
field. 1 was mo\ed to the field hospital and the wound 
dressed. In a day or two I was carried to New Orleans, but 
gettini; so as to mo\e about, and there being great need of 
my service at the front, I thought that I could go there and 
help by advice and encouraging the men, until I could leave 
my tent and resume active duty. With that idea I started 
U]), somewhat to the surprise of the New Orleans surgeons 
and authorities. When we got to l)onaldsonville, or about 
there, the steamer touched the wharf, and then I first heard 
of the arrest of Colonel Kingman. Hastening to the regi- 
ment, and being the ranking officer, I at once took command. 

"The two last, or the three last rallies, on the twenty- 
seventh, were under my command, and the final one after I 
was w^ounded. The wound knocked me down at the critical 
moment of the next to the last rall\-, which was when we got 
so near, and I was dazed and could not get up for a little 
time. When I got u])()n m\' feet the column had disaii]5eared 
in the ra\ine. I always thought that if I had not then fallen 
we would ha\e got into the works. 

" I was at the fi-ont of the column all the time after we 
went o\-er the 'slaughter' house and fences, when, as )()u 
know, our oixler was so bioken that nobod_\- went forward 
only those who wanted to. The regiments were all mixed 
up, and man)- of the l'"ifteenth, which liad been sec-ond in the 
formation of the brigade, were at the front all the time. 
I'",ach time we got a little nearer the rebel woiks. If we had 
got into tiieni it is probable that we should ha\e been cut up 
there. If we had assaulted in the morning, possibh' we 



An) If Life at Port Hudson. 347 

might have done better ; that is, simiUtaneously with the 
rest of the army. I never knew the reason why there was 
not concerted attack all along the line. 

" My wound was in very bad condition on the fourteenth 
of June, and as I could not properly care for it on duty, it 
turned black and hard, being swollen like a piece of iron 
almost. It was almost impossible to save it. Colonel Clark 
insisted that the surgeons should make a report ordering me 
off duty, but I refused to quit. You know how we were, 
and with the boys dying off as they were, it seemed a crime 
to leave them. It was six years before I got my health so as 
to be fit for work again. Dr. D. V>. Nelson treated me for a 
time after I got home. If I could have got well enough I 
should have at once re-entered the service, but it was 
impossible. 

" General Sherman fell as we started on the first rally after 
the first repulse. I had been brigade field ofihcer for the 
day, and busy on the front of the brigade picket line ne.xt 
the enemy's works from early morning until the charging 
column was formed ; here I joined the regiment and advanced 
with them over the- wreck of the 'slaughter' house and the 
several fences, which obstacles were still sufficient to throw 
the brigade into inextricable confusion. Pushing along, some 
of the men of the Fifteenth accompanying, I found myself 
near the extreme front, and the column swept into the ravine 
on the right and to the rear, with some- standing and many 
lying upon the plain. I went back and saw (General Sher- 
man, and the men were rallied, although formation was 
impossible or any distinction of regiments or other distinctive 
organizations. I was at the head of the column, had been 
and was brigade field officer, and it seemed to be where I 
belonged, for there was no regiment in any particular place. 
When we had got in as g(jod shape as we could fcjr another 
advance, I stepped back to General Sherman and said, 



348 TJic Fifteenth Xeiv Havipshiir J \^luntcers. 

' General, ha\'e you any special orders ? ' I was a new man 
wholly on such work, and thoui^ht he would gi\'e me a few 
particulars. He replied, 'Lead them ahead — straiL;ht ahead 
— dead upon the enemy's works.' 

" I rushed back to the head of the column and repeated 
the order, ' h^)r ward, straight ahead — dead on the enemy's 
works ! ' and on we pushed, but the middle and rear fell out, 
and looking back hardly anybody but the dead and wounded 
were in sight. General Sherman was dismounted when I 
IkuI left liim, but i)ushing lorward bareheaded encouraging 
the men around him and on both sides c^f him. I ran back 
along the plain near the edge of the ra\ine, and found 
General Sherman in the ravine a little down from the bank 
with his leg shattered. I got a stretcher, carried by Fifteenth 
New Hampshire boys, and they bore him to the rear ; the 
last I ever saw him, he was thus disappearing. I ran \\\) and 
down the line. rj)ow was already wounded, I suj^pose. I 
remember nothing of him after the fight hrst began, only of 
knowing that he was wounded. Colonel Cowles was the 
next in command, and as soon as we could we roused u]) the 
men from the rear and sides of the raxine, and rushed ahead 
until cut to jiieces again ; and akhough it had achanced, the 
column seemed again to haxe been lost — most had gone into 
the ra\ine. Of course man}- had run off to the rear, like 
sensible, prudent men. Cowles was killed, and Colonel Clark 
was next in counnand. 

" I was then at the front on the edge of the bank, and it 
was still as deatli all the way back to the 'slaughter ' house, 
haidl)- a man in siglu ; firing ceased except occasional bullets 
both wa}s, and I didn't know what to do about tr)ing it 
again, nor who to go to, and it was foolish to mo\-e an)- wa_\-. 
While watching and thinking, suddenl)- away back I heard 
the bo) s shouting anil rallying around a soldier leading a 
horse. It was General .Shernian's orderl\-. I sprang uji in 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 349 

the front and shouted to the men, and they cHmbed up out 
of the ravine all the way back, and the column filled up in 
an enthusiastic, disorganized, but rushing, advancing body, 
towards the enemy's works ; the soldier and the horse still 
advancing, he on the right side leading the horse by the bit 
steady as a clock, and the men all about and following, and 
thinner and scattered, \\\) toward those in front. 

" I remember we were getting close up within two or three 
rods of the works, moving quite steadily, and dropping all the 
time — dropping all the way back as well as at the rear. I 
was waving my sword and shouting. I saw the soldier and 
the horse coming steadily on, and then without being con- 
scious of anything having occurred to cause it, I was flat on 
the grcnuid [this was a second time Blair was felled to the 
ground] — not conscious of any hurt or pain. The soldier 
came on about even, and fell, shot badly. I can't remem- 
ber about the horse ; a white horse it seems to mc, hwX. 
perhaps not, and I think the general's — his orderly anyway. 
After the siege I found him d)'ing in the hospital below New 
Orleans. Dr. Towle and I went through the hospitals 
together, and I heard a whisper and an effort to make me 
hear. A very feeble man, unable to move on his bed, called 
me, 'Colonel! colonel! I am the general's orderly!' He 
knew that I knew him and his deed. I stooped o\er him 
and kissed him, and could almost have died with him. Dr. 
Towle may remember this, and 1 think he said that the 
orderly had told him about our being together in the fight. 
I never saw him only on the twenty-seventh, and on that day 
in the hospital. If he had been a general he would have 
been immortalized. 

" My right arm was badly shot through the flesh, grind- 
ing, but not breaking the bone. My scabbard was shot away, 
and my clothing riddled in several places. Colonel Kingman 
had come. He had on a red skull cap, and was well up to 
the front on that last rally. I got back part way and learned 



350 TJtc Fifteenth Xci^< lla))ipshirc ]'oIinitccrs. 

that Clark was knocked senseless by, as it turned out, the 
windage of a cannon ball. Colonel Kingsley I don't remem- 
ber about. At some time he was badly wounded, and it 
must have been in that fight. Any way, Kingman was the 
ranking officer, but (ieneral .Andrews, who was l)ack there 
somewhere, sent up orders to keep still and get off under 
cover of the coming dark. My arm was getting pretty bad. 
I stayed there at the front, i:)r()tected b)- an irregularit}' of 
the bank of the ra\ine, and as it grew dusk, 1 got off with 
some help, but I ne\er found my scabbard, and carried my 
sword naked all the rest of the siege, brought it home so, 
and it was burned with my house in Plymouth in Septem- 
ber, 1870. 

"We made four separate ad\ances * and three rallies and 
charges after the first repulse, that I remember about, for 1 
was in the front of them, and General Sherman ga\e to me 
his last order before the second rally and forward mo\ement, 
as above stated. He fell sometime before that one was 
given up, and everything that mortals could do to get there 
was done. He knew nothing about it after he fell. 

" I cannot tell how many men there were in the cliarging 
column at first, but I do not beliexe there were o\er twehe 
hundred men — parts of four regiments ; and after the first 
achance — the first rally -— not o\ei eight hundred; in the 
third. fi\e hundred ; in the fourth and last, three hundred. 
Nobod}- could ha\c an)- h()]K', antl there was e\er)- chance 
for the bottom to fall out and run awa\-, and nobotl)- stayed 
or got to the front but those who wanted to, and the}' were 
the fools, sax'c for the pride and the shame of the thing, and 
the honor of the c-ountr)- and the fiag. 

" In after wars Sherman made a criticism that wiien he 
fell the worst seemed to be o\er, antl he thought they ought 
to have gone into the works, lie was bra\e himself, but he 

* See note, pa.ije 328. for uncniy's notice of lUaii'.s railie.s. 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 351 

was criticising man)' men who were his equals in that respect, 
and who made a gallant struggle after he fell before they 
faltered, and who rallied twice more in the face of absolute 
despair after he was disabled and out of sight. 

" The account of this battle in the history of the regiment 
in the Adjutant-General's reixjrt, is from an address delivered 
by me at Plymouth, on request of the people, soon after my 
return, while I remembered everything distinctly — the soldier 
and the horse I speak of there. Corporal Tebbetts, Sergeant 
Merrick, Adams, killed, etc. 

" The colonel was brave in that fight. He was at the last 
rally where I first saw him after we got over the fences, but 
if he had not been brave he might have stayed away then. 
That night, after Dr. Janvrin dressed my wound, I was 
carried to the Cotton Press Hospital, and saw the wounded 
and dying — Mr. Penniman, of Plymouth, and a multitude of 
others ; was badly off that night ; taken to New Orleans for 
treatment, but got sick of it and returned." 

As has been already shown. Lieutenant-colonel Blair, 
after rallying from the first shock of his wound, which felled 
him to the ground, his clothing saturated with blood, with 
sword in left hand, his scabbard shot away, attempted a third 
rally ; but the enemy reopened fire and swept it away. At 
this Sergt. W. H. Philbrook, Com])any H, rushed to his 
side, swinging his hat and shouting to the boys to come on. 
Blair called for fifty men to go with him over the parapet, and 
though the men were there in hundreds, they could not be 
assembled and aligned. 

Reminiscences of Major Aldrich : 

Major Aldrich's position brought him into the road that 
led by the Schalter house into the enemy's sally port ; he 
moved on over the fallen. Shot spattered in the dirt of the 
road like rain drops. Here he saw Captain Gordon brought 



352 



The Fifteenth .Wti' Hampshire I'oluuteers. 



to his knees and dazed by the concussion of a shell, which 
permanently deafened one ear. The major made superhuman 
efforts to aliij,"!! the nuMi ; lie st()p|)C(l one man, wlio was shoot- 
ing- low into our own front. .Soon men had largely disappeared 
into the ra\ine to the right, (leneral .Sherman was mounted 
and riding ahead of the l-'iftecnth. His horse received a 
shot and lurched backward for ten yards, and fell in a planta- 
tion ditch, with the general at the bottom. Aldrich returned 
his sword to its scabbard and assisted the general to rise. 
One leg was pinned bjneath the horse ; the major passed 
him his h.at, which had fallen to the ground; the horse 

e.\i)ircd there. The gen- 
eral was dazed by his 
fall, but instantly gath- 
ering his senses, rushed 
ahead, and inuuediately 
fell with a shot through 
the leg, and api)arently 
realizing that without 
his leadership all was 
lost, exclaimed, " ( ), my 
(]od, ni}- C"o u n t r \' ! " 
C'onn-ade j. (i. McCril- 
lis, Com])an\- I, helped 
carrxhim fi-om the field. 
Just as Major .\ldrich 
had helped the general 
to his led, and as he 
was in the act of turn- 
ing again to the front, 
he recei\ed a blow on 
the side of his hip that fched him into the same ditch where 
lay the general's horse, lie got up and sat on the side of the 
ditch to examine his lunt. It sccmeil to him that he was shot 
through the thigh, but found that his sword, belt and scabbard 




I.ost ri);lit kg by wound at Port HucLson, La., JIa\ 
27, IS6.-?. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 353 

were all stripped off and carried away ; he found them in the 
ditch among blackberry bushes. A missile had struck the 
scabbard eight inches below the hilt, and cutting its way clean 
through the strong leather to the bright steel, had bent the 
sword nearly to a right angle, and at the same time the brass 
tip was stripped from the scabbard and the leather torn to 
shreds for six or eight inches at the lower end. He bent the 
sword back nearly to a straight line again, and wore it through 
the service, and now possesses it as a priceless memento of 
the deadly strife. When the major had recovered himself 
from this shock, on looking ahead the regiment had practically 
disappeared into hiding, though some few scattering men 
were still on the field. He then crossed the ravine to Com- 
panies A and K, and remained with them till night, when he 
came off with the rest. 

As has been already said, the color sergeant, Merrick, and 
Corporal Hussey, carried the flags into the fight, on the line 
with the line officers, and were thus at the start some six 
paces in rear of the color guard. Corporal McGregor, of 
this guard, distinctly remembers the circumstance, as all the 
experiences of this day are indelibly impressed on his mind. 
At the bugle call General Dow's brigade of four regiments, 
and at four-rod spaces, followed each other slowly from the 
woods upon the field ; they were splendidly drilled and 
equipped, and with all their banners flying, as seen by the 
men of Company E from their position, formed a pageant of 
great beauty. But as soon as freed from the woods, the step 
was changed to double-quick, the long lines of glittering steel 
changed from "shoulder" to "right shoulder shift," and 
almost in a moment they were upon the Schalter house, 
and each regiment, as it reached this serious obstacle directly 
in its front, was instantly broken and shattered. None 
could cross the smouldering ruins ; thev crowded to right 



354 The Fifteen f/i Xe7^' Haiupsliire W^limteers. 

and left. The right wings struck into the woods and ravine 
at the right, and the extreme left wings were on even and 
unobstructed ground, and thus surged ahead of those who 
were delayed by obstructions in their wa)-, among which 
were the massive fences to the left of the Schaltcr house. 
These fences inclosed a spacious flower garden ; the men 
now climbed these fences by hundreds, rushed across, 
scaled the others, then through a slight ra\-ine \\\)()w the 
field, arriving there not as a well drilled and appointed army, 
but a mere disorganized mass of humanity, each acting 
independently for himself. And now the Confederate army, 
in butternut and slouched hats, having reserved its fire, rose 
in mass along their parapet for a mile or more, and delivered 
their fire with terrible effect. Then our sharpshooters to 
right and left redoubled their work, but the enemy, never 
flinching, still poured in their voUca's. The color guard 
came directly upon the smouldering Schaltcr house at its 
centre. McCjregor, with the crowd, surged to the left, 
passed into the flower garden, where the house had burned 
away, and crossing it made liis exit through a turn-stile and 
immediately dropped intcj the little lavine, clambered out at 
the other side upon the field, and achanced with the })romis- 
cuous multitude, but soon met with a check. Tlie firing 
now from the enem)- was terrific ; tlie air seemed as full of 
hissing and screaming missiles as of hail in a hail storm. 
Men fell fast now. The firing was high, or, as it seemed, 
none could ha\e lixed for a moment, a great length of the 
enemy's i)arai)et being concentrated on this struggling mass. 
Here Blair was rusliing up and down making frantic efforts 
to rally the men and bring some semblance of order out of 
the prevailing confusion. ( )n ]iassing McCircgor and wav- 
ing his sword, he was exclaiming, " Hoys, this is disgrace!" 
Right here tlie aihance was staNcd, althougli Hlair, tliree 
sejxu-ate times, rahied a portion and attempted to enter the 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



355 




THE FIFTEENTH FI.AGS AFTER THE SERVICE. 



356 TJic FiftccntJi .AVti' Havi/>s//irc W^Iuntccrs. 

enemy's works. Just after passing the little ravine and 
advancing upon the battle-field, McGregor, hearing shouts 
behind of " Put up that flag," turned and saw Sergeant 
Merrick, having just regained his feet from the ravine, and 
having the flag gathered up around the staff and trailing it, 
which was probably the position in which he had to carry it 
through the brambles and general impediments which he had 
so far encountered ; he was now in the act of unfurling it in 
that terrible storm, and it was instantly riddled with shot 
and torn to shreds. The sergeant fell here ; then Corporal 
McCluer, who just before the assault had been designated by 
Lieutenant Wyatt to represent Company B on the color 
guard, taking the flag from the fallen Merrick, fell off, with 
the rest, into the ravine, carrying the flag with him. He 
then took a position behind a near-by stump, and commenced 
firing upon the enemy ; after two or three shots a comrade 
of the Twenty-sixth Connecticut called to him, and asked if 
there was room for another there. He replied that there 
was, and then the Connecticut boy joined him, and they 
alternated firing over the stump ; but after a \ery few 
rounds, while McCluer was down loading, the Connecticut 
boy, in the act of firing, received a shot directly in the centre 
of the forehead, and fell back dead across McCluer's legs, his 
blood and brains oozing out. McCluer laid him carefully 
aside, and went on with his work. Here Colonel Kingman 
approached, and asked where the color sergeant was. McCluer 
replied, " Upon the field." The colonel then asked if he was 
dead. McCluer said, "No, but badly wounded." He then 
called for volunteers to go with him — the colonel — to bring 
the sergeant in. McCluer went with the colonel, and taking 
each an arm, dragged the unfortunate sergeant from the 
field. The colonel then procured four with a stretcher to 
convey him to the surgeons. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



357 



Meanwhile Corp. Enos K. Hall, of Company C, seized the 
flag, and bore it forward toward where Blair was rallying the 
men for another advance, when he, also, fell, very severely 
wounded. It is doubtful if a 
braver or more gallant deed 
than this was enacted that 
bloody day. 

Now Corporal Dearborn, of 
Company B, advanced with the 
regiment, and after the break 
made his way to the \ery front, 
where he fired till his gun was 
hot. He here received a shot 
in the right shoulder, but still 
kept on firing till he received a 
second wound from a buckshot, 
which passed through his right 
ear, slid under his scalp, and 
lodged in his head, and from 
which wounds the blood was flowing freely. He then retired 
from the field, and quite a distance back came across Hall 
just as he had fallen, and with the flag beside him on the 
ground. Hall called for water, and Dearborn gave him a 
drink from his own canteen ; then Dearborn carried the flag 
to the ravine. This must have been well toward night, for 
while here Dearborn remembers of Lieutenant Seavey 
reporting to Colonel Kingman and requesting more men to 
take position behind a log to act as sharpshooters. (See 
page 343.) Merrick fell very early in the fight, and long ere 
this had been borne to the rear. 




CORP. KNOS K. HALL — Co. C. 



358 TJic Fifteenth Neiv Hampshire Volunteers. 

LakI'U'okt, Xovenibcr 27, 1899. 
Dear Comrade McGref^or : 

I have just received yours of tlie twenty-fourth instant, with my letter 
written to you last August, whicli you have rewritten for the printer, and 
enquire if I can subscribe to it. 

In answer I will say that it is in much better form tlian the original, and 
I most willingly subscribe to the same. I e.xpected you to use it as the 
foundation of remarks of your own, or to express the incidents in your 
own language, or I should have tried to better some of its phraseology. 
Yours truly, 

John Aldrich. 

L.AKEPORT, August 26, 1899. 
Charles IVIcGregor, Esq. 

Dear Comrade: In looking over the reports of the Adjutant-Ck'neral, 
and also the brief histories of the Fifteenth Regiment, and my own 
memoranda and letters written from the front, I think it c|uite strange 
that no mention is made of our Adjutant, E. E. Pinkham, being wounded. 
He was injured on tlie twenty-seventh of May liy a fragment of shell, or 
other missile, which, striking on his sword, carried it against his right hip 
with great force, causing a severe contusion which lamed him for several 
days, and was sufficient to excuse him from duty, but I think he did not 
report the injury at headquarters, choosing rather to remiin at the front 
and perform the multifarious .services of his position under great jxiin and 
difficulty. His sword hilt was badly damaged by the impact. In reflect- 
ing on the circumstances, I am quite sure he requested me not to mention 
the fact of his injury, and that he himself made no mention of it because 
of his modesty, and his fear that tidings of its reaching home might cause 
his friends there anxiety on his behalf. 

Adjutant Pinkham was one of the most efficient otheers in tlie regi- 
ment, and its organization, discipline, and drill, and whatever of suc- 
cess and honor it attained, was due more to him than to any other single 
line or staff officer on its rolls. This is a prettv broad statement, but I 
tiiink it can easily be demonstrated, and it does not detract from the 
laurels ol' anv other ofhct'r. In all the brief sketches of the regiment he 
has furnislied the material from the records, and his innate modesty has 
prevented liim from fuinisliing matter that would seem to place him in the 
foreground. 

I trust that in the fortlicoming work lu' will take his proper place among 
the most efficient officers, either of the staff or line. 

Hoping to .soon hear that you have completed your share in the work, 
I remain, 

\'our "old time comrade," 

John .Vi.dkrh. 

Corrections approved. — John .Ai.dkich. 



Ai-my Life at Port Hudson. 



359 




ADJT. EDWARD E.' PINKHAM. 



360 The Fifteenth Xeiv HavipsJiire Volunteers. 

After General Sherman fell, his orderl}- carried his flap^ 
and led a horse forward, but soon himself fell. ( )f this, 
Comrade E. B. Huse, Comjxmy C, relates: 

" The soldier who is reported to have been leading a white 
horse and waving a flag and rallying the troops, was Sergt. 
Herman I. Stork, of Read's Company, Third Massachusetts 
Cavalry, and was Gen. T. \V. Sherman's orderly, and had 
been with him ever since he — General Sherman — came to 
the Department of the (iulf. I became acquainted with him 
in New Orleans, in h\'bruary, 1863, while General Sherman 
had his headcjuarters in Park Hotel, New Orleans, and com- 
manded the defenses of New Orleans. He was a bright and 
educated young German, about twenty-two years old, and on 
Ma\' 27 was keei:)ing as close as possible to General Sher- 
man. After General Sherman was wounded, by being shot 
through the leg below the knee, breaking the bone. Orderly 
Stork dismounted, and leading his horse — a large white one 
— and seizing a flag,* waved it aloft, and called on the troops 
to i)ush on. Suddenly he was seen to fall, the blood sjnnting 
from his mouth. Some of the h^ifteenth Regiment men are 
said to have picked him uj) and carried him to the rear, and 
toward night he was taken' to a field hospital and treated as 
well as possible. 1 le was struck b\- a charge of canister shot, 
one passing through his check, smashing his jaw; another 
made a bad contusion on his arm, and another jiassed through 
a secrete region of the groin and througli the thick jiart of his 
thigli. lie remained in the hospital till I""rida\', Ma\- 29, wlien, 
by General Sherman's orders, 1 was detailed to accompany 
Stork to New Orleans, and see that he had the best of care. 
I left the field hospital late in the afternoon of the twcnt\- 
ninth, in an ambulance, riding beside him and attending to his 
wants. At S|)riiig(icld Landing he was carried aboard the 

* NoTK. It appears tliat tliis rtajj was (icncral Sherman's hcacUiiiarters" 
flag, and wliicli it was Sergeant Stork's special duty to carr\ . 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



361 




E. B. HUSE. (See page 60.) 



362 The Fiftcoith Xcio HainpsJiirc ]\)lu)itccrs. 

steamer " Sally Robinson," with a large number of other 
wounded. Arrived in New Orleans on the afternoon of May 
30, and had him placed in the barracks hospital below the city. 
Here he was treated and got able, after some weeks, to be 
sent to a hospital in New York, but he died, as I have 
recently found, in New York, October 20, 1863, from his 
wounds. 

" I saw him several times after he was wounded, and he 
was full of courage, and bore his sufferings like the true 
hero he was. I thought he would surelv recover, but the 
woiuid in the groin caused a trouble internally that could not 
be reached." 

After Sergeant Stork fell, Priw M. L. Moore, Company H, 
under a terrific fire, crawled from the ra\ine upon the field, 
and back with the flag Stork was carrying. 

Of the color guard, the sergeant, who was a very large 
and powerful man, and said to have been the handsomest 
color bearer in our army, receixcd a shot in the thigh, shatter- 
ing the bone, and from which the surgeons remo\ed the 
shattered portion, thus shortening his leg by about three 
inches. He lived till April 2, 1888. He was brought off 
the field by M. L. Moore, Company H, and three others. 
Hall fell severely wounded by a three-ounce canister shot, 
which, entering the lower j^art of the abdomen, passed through 
the u]:)per part of the groin and lodged in the outer part of 
the thigh. it was afterwards remoxcd b}- the surgeon, and 
brought home to New Hampshire, where it is still preserved 
by his surviving friends. It is a curious incident that the 
ball first struck an aml)rot\pe and a tint\pc of his wife, which 
were in his pocket, and carried ])ortions of theii- wreckage 
with it, making a very vicious wound, from the effects of 
which he nc\er fully recox'ered. He li\cd till \o\ember 20. 
1887, and had been heard to sa)' that lie nc\er was free from 
pain, extending from the wound to the shouldei-. He 



Annv Life at Port Hudson. 



363 




HIRAM HOOK. 
Color guard of Fifteenth Regiment and later color bearer of First N. H. H. Artillery. 



364 



TJie FifteciitJt .^Vz^,' HampsJiiir W^liinteers. 



recovered sufficiently to sail from New Orleans for home on 
August I, by the "Pioneer." Reached New York on the 
fourteenth, Concord on the fifteenth, and home on the seven- 
teenth. 

Corp. Hiram Hook, Company G, recei\ed a wound in the 
left arm near the shoulder, from a piece of shell that laid the 
bone bare but did not injure it. 





K.NU.S K. IIAI 



E. B. HUSE. 



Corporal I)earl)orn, Comjian)- 1^, rcccixed a buckshot 
through one of his cars, and wliicli slid under his scalp. His 
comrades afterwaids chaffed him for the rebel's piercing his 
ears for jewels. 

Thus of the coloi- guard that daw four are known to ha\e 
been woundetl, and others mav ha\e been of whom we can- 
not learn. 

Now, Corp. Daniel Husscn", Compan\- I, who carried the 
state banner, bore it forward to the front ami cxentually into 
the raxine, well up to the enenn's works, and at night 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 365 

brought it off with him ; he received no injury, and from 
that time forward filled the fallen Merrick's place, Cor- 
poral Bullock, Company F, then taking the state flag. 

Remarks of Corporal McCluer, Company B : 
" When we all took refuge there in the ravine I met 
Colonel Kingman ; he came to me and wanted to know what 
had become of the color bearer. I told him he laid up on 
the plain. The colonel asked if he was dead ; told him he 
wasn't. Then the colonel called for volunteers to go and bring 
in the color bearer. I told the colonel I would go with him. 
I laid my gun and the colors down by the side of a stump, 
and we went and dragged the color bearer into the ravine ; 
he was sent to the rear on a stretcher. That was the last I 
ever saw of him, although I heard he lived several years after 
the war. The next day I was promoted to sergeant, and 
acted in that capacity till mustered out. I was in the fight 
on the fourteenth of June." 

Remarks of Captain .Sanborn, Company H : 
" You will remember that I was with the company in both 
charges, twenty-seventh of May and the fourteenth of June, 
and you will remember the twenty-seventh of May charge, 
that we had nothing to eat or drink from early morning till 
about 9 o'clock at night. That night I never shall forget. 
I well remember what I said : 'All I want is a cup of coffee 
and a chance to lay down and rest ; I don't want a mouthful of 
hardtack.' So I laid down, too tired to eat anything, and fell 
into a sound sleep, and slept about twenty or thirty minutes, 
when the general sent his orderly in and ordered me to take 
Company I out as pickets on the front, and I took them right 
to the front, and stayed out with them till 4 o'clock the next day 
without any sleep at all.* That next night, after we had got 

* Captain Pinkham and Lieutenant Moore had been sent down the river 
sick, and Lieutenant Wallingford was badly wounded. Lieutenant Moore 
afterwards assumed command, and was also severely wounded in the head 
later in the siege. 



366 TJic Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire ]\^Iunteers. 

sound asleep, the long roll sounded, and our regiment was 
out and in line of battle in about twenty or thirty minutes. 
Finding that \vc might have to stay in line all night, perhaps, 
I gave the command \\\) to Lieutenant Sea\xn', with the strict 
instructions that if tliere was the least alarm to call me 
immediately, and went back about a rod and laid down 
between the cotton hill rows and took one for a pillow ; if I 
ever put in solid sleep I did that night. 

" There is a matter of fact which I wish to state. We 
were formed in line of battle for the charge, with the Sixth 
Michigan in front. Now my position, and part of my com- 
pany, was right behind that fence and within a few feet of it, 
near the centre. When the order was given to double-quick, 
I, with a few of my men, leaped for the fence, but I found 
it impossible to keep up with those that were out each side 
of the garden and did not ha\e any fence in front of them. 
This was the whole cause of our regiment breaking line ; 
the company on my right was broken \\\) h\ the same means. 
I mention these facts in behalf of m)' men. and not for 
myself. The fighting continued about an hour and a half. 
At about 9 o'clock we fell back a short distance and 
encamped on oui- arms for the night. About 10 o'clock I 
was ordered out willi C"om}ianv I on jiicket to the front and 
right, towards Auger's division, stationing three in a squatl 
until all were placed on guard, and remained in charge of 
them until 4 o'clock the next da)- without sleep or rest. I 
was ordered out with C"om]xui}- I that night and all day of 
the twenty-eighth until 4 o'clock, after being in the charge 
all day of the twentv-seventh. It was ccrtainl\- an extra 
dutv and a hard and dangerous one." 

Captain Lang, while stoo])ing to pass under the Schalter 
house fence, was stuimed by an exploding shell and knew 
nothing more of his surroundings till he recovered his con- 
sciousness way to the front, antl where he was almost alone, 



Ai'viy Life at Port Hudson. 367 

as then nearly all had fallen back. He saw Captain Hall 
near by, and also saw Sergeant Stork leading a white horse 
on the battle-field. The captain left the field just before chirk. 

Captain Lang, Company C, 
was born in 1 8 16, in Bath, N. H., 
of humble birth. As soon as 
old enough commenced to work 
at the carpenter trade, and later 
on learned the cabinet trade, 
which business he has always 
followed. As soon as old enough 
was private in the New Hamp- 
shire militia, soon rose by grade 
to command the company, and 
was honorably discharged. In 
1862, upon the call for the nine- 
months' men, the Bath b())'s 
wanted him for their captain, 

/ CAPTAIN LANG — Co C 

and after due consideration he 

consented to go as such, at a great personal sacrifice, as he 

had three small children to care for. 

Reminiscences of Lieutenant Wyatt : 

" In the assault of the twenty-seventh of May, I was 
wounded in the arm. Probably a piece of shell cut away my 
blouse and shirt and left a bruise, from the effects of whicb 
I had a running sore for several weeks. In fact, it did not 
heal completely until after I arrived home in August. The 
flesh sloughed off from one side of the arm, also the wound 
broke through upon the other side. I remained on the field 
the night after the battle ; was sent the next day to a hospi- 
tal in New Orleans. After remaining there a time I was 
allowed to go to a private house in Carrollton, where I 
remained till after the surrender. 

" I remember when we were in the battle, bullets and 
shells flying from the concealed foe, one of my compan)' .said, 
' Show nic the ciiony! ' I think it was George Keyes." 




368 The FfticcntJi Nciv Hanipshirc Volunteers. 

Noah Tebbetts enlisted at Rochester in Company I, 
Fifteenth New Hampshire Regiment, and was made a cor- 
poral. He served with his rci^iment until it was mustered 
out of service, and was with the regiment during the siege 
and assaults upon Port Hudson. On May 27 he was placed 
on guard over some regimental property nearly two miles to 
the rear, but learning there was to be a charge, he left his post 
in care of another, and reached the front just in season to take 
part in the assault, saying, " If there's going to be a battle, 
I'm going to have a hand in it." Lieutenant-colonel Blair, in 
a letter to Tebbetts years after the war, wrote as follows : " We 
made several charges, as you know, on that bloody day. May 
27, 1863, and the column was so cut uj) that all regimental 
organization was lost, and everybody went ahead who wanted 
to. You must remember the ravine and the logs on the 
bank of it, on our right, extending from near the Schalter 
house clear up to the rebel works. Well, after one of our 
rushes I looked back for the column, and the whole thing 
was down, dead or wounded, or slid off into the ravine for 
protection. This happened several times, and, after breath- 
ing, we would rally and push ahead a piece further. In this 
way we got, some of us, close up. but fell outside the breast- 
works for all that. At this j^articular time, when I looked 
back for the boys, there was only just one standing in sight, 
and that was you, great, tall seventeen-year-old boy, as you 
were, six feet two or three inches high, standing on top of a 
log, firing away at Port Hudson all alone. The log was on 
top of the bank and you were on top of the log, just as 
straight up as a 'rakc-tail,' putting down tlie rebellion just as 
fast as you could. I shall never forget that sight as long as 
I live." He also did yeoman service in the trenches, and on 
the picket line, and in later assaults. He re-enlisted in 
January, 1865, in the Fifth New Hampshire Regiment, and 
served until the close of the war. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



369 




NOAH TEBBKTTS. 



370 



The Fiftcoith Xcw Havipshiir \'oluHtccrs. 



Mr. Tebbetts practiced law at Rochester, and in 1872 
removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he now resides, and is 
engaged in his profession, in which he has had a fair degree 
of success. He is a member of U. S. Grant Post, No. 327, 
Department of New York, G. A. R., and has been its com- 
mander, and was a member of the "Guard of Honor" at 
the funeral of General Grant at Mt. McGregor and New 
York. 

In 1898 he was a candidate for department commander 
for New York, and was defeated by a few votes after a very 
exciting canvass. He has always taken an active interest in 
Grand Army affairs, and is well known throughout the Order. 




I 




SERC.T. A. R. AYERS. AUGUSTINE R. AVERS. 

Reminiscence of Sergt. Augustine Ayers : 

" After leaching the field I was near Sergeant Wallace and 
Sergt. A. v. Berry, and Priv. Xoah Tebbetts, Company I. 
We all fired on a gun at the rigln that was firing shells at 
the time (rebel battery 22), and one at tlie left that was firing 
grape and canister (re])el battery 24). We silenced them. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 371 

and were so intent on our work as to be oblivious to our 
surroundings. Our Company G Moses lay just over the brink 
of the ravine behind a log. He called to us to come down 
there. 'A damned good place,' he said, 'you can sight right 
over the log.' 

" I heard a noise as of a wind. On looking around I saw 
the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York coming on 
the field. The enemy rose in ranks and fired on them by 
volley. Colonel Cowles ordered them to cover, when they 
fell off into the ravine and disappeared, leaving Cowles and 
me alone. I heard a groan. I had just charged cartridge 
and was returning rammer. I turned to see who groaned. 
It was Cowles, and he was falling. A tall sergeant rushed 
up out of the ravine as though to save him, and carried 
him in. At that instant I received the shot through my left 
wrist." 

Reminiscences of Corporal McGregor : 

" My remembrance always was that this charge took place 
at noon ; but there is a wide discrepancy in regard to the 
time, some placing it so late as 2 o'clock. But now, in 

Note. It should be stated that Colonel Cowles did not just at the 
moment of his fall order his regiment to retreat or seek shelter, as some 
have said. His regiment, as also the Twenty-sixth Connecticut, was 
smashed by the obstacles encountered in the same manner as was the 
Fifteenth New Hampshire, and just as it was so smashed the enemy 
poured upon it their concentrated fire. It was during his efforts to steady 
and reorganize his men that he fell, and they were without their leader. 
After this, as Colonel Blair says, none went forward but such as chose to, 
but the writer of this personally knows that the Twenty-sixth Connecticut 
men and the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York men were as 
plenty at the very front as were those of the leading regiments. Colonel 
Kingsley, when his command was shattered beyond hope, himself went 
forward and fired on the enemy like a private soldier, as has already been 
shown. It was a One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New Yorker that was 
with Morrison when he fell, and brought me his watch and pocketbook. 
(See page 25.) McGregor. 



37- 



TJie Fifteenth Xeiv Havips/iire Volunteers. 



accord with my own memory, at 3 o'clock the repulse was 
complete and all hope lost. It was comparatively quiet at this 
time, althouj^h our men b}- thousands lay concealed every- 
where about the field and ravine, vigilantly watching and 
acting as sharpshooters ; and then it was that Sergeant Bur- 
ley, Company H, stepped to my side in the ravine and said, 
' Let's go up there again,' meaning on to the battle-field. 
We both instantly climbed up 
and stood on the brink, and 
were the only two standing men 
in sight. The enemy could be 
seen jumping by their sally-port 
one by one. Burle\- said, ' Mc- 
(iregor, if any man goes into 




SERGT. J. J. J^rRI.KV 



Port Hudson to-da}', I'm going.' 
At that ver)- instant Auger made 
his assault. ' There they go ! 
there they go!' he says, and 
rushed off in their direction. I 
stood and watched that charge. 
It was a mile away., I distinctly 
heard them sliout ; they were 
met with a withering fire, but 
rushed on, and the sliattered and struggling front reached 
the parapet, mounted it, and some few surged o^•er into the 
rebel works. There was a brief hand to hand encounter 
between our few men on the jiarapet, they stabbing down ujhmi 
the enemy witli their Ixuonets. Those men whom we saw 
dodging by their sall)-port were General Beall's forces massing 
to meet Auger,* just as they had to meet us at noon, and as 
they had already met Grover and Weitzel at daybreak and 
10 o'clock respectively." 



See note, report of (ieneral Miles, C. S. A., page 3: 



Army Life at Port Hjtdson. 



373 



Reminiscences of Corporal Davis (recently deceased), Com- 
pany K. It will be remembered that this company was 
deployed to the rii^ht as sharpshooters during the battle : 

" After the assault had failed the enemy's artillery in our 
front — enemy's No. 22 — opened on the field now strewn 
with our dead and wounded. Al. Pressey, Andrew George, 
Hen. Brown, and I, agreed among ourselves that we would 
silence the gun, and we crawled up ahead to within twenty 
rods of the parapet, way in advance of everything else. We 
agreed not to fire singly, but wait till the gunners stepped 
into the embrasure to load, then we gave them our volley and 
drove them out. We silenced the gun and kept it silenced 
all the afternoon. Lieutenant Larkin came up to us, and 
afterwards several others, some from other regiments. We 
lay behind a big felled tree. Pressey was well up in its 
limbs. I was right at the crotch. We left Larkin behind 
sick, but he got up and came to the front with us and took a 
musket from the field. Lead came into the tree on the 
opposite side. There was an old white-headed fellow on the 
rebel side who was a fine marksman ; he fired steady, and 
would take a chip right out of the top of the log every 
time. Larkin said to me, ' Let's see if we can't pick that 
fellow off.' He said, ' Soon as you see his head come up 
above the parapet you fire at it before he has a chance to 
fire.' I waited till I saw his head begin to come up and 
fired in a great hurry, not taking time to aim. I struck 
about six inches under his head and saw the dirt fly. The 
white-headed fellow in return took a chip out of the log just 
where my head was. I had taken my head out of the way 
just in season. Larkin said, ' Now you have tried him, next 
time I'll try him.' The white-headed man's rifle was 
bright and glistened in the sun. So Larkin fired the next 
time, and the white head went right over backwards and fired 
no more. All laid here till dark, when our ammunition 



374 ^/'^' FiftccntJi New Hampshire Volunteers. 

being exhausted, and we could not return the enemy's fire, 
we wanted to get back. So Pressey and I agreed to draw the 
enemy's fire by rising and jumping to the right, which we 
did, and the grass was completely combed as though with a 
rake, by rebel bullets. We ran upon this, and all got back 
without a scratch. The rebel gun only fired twice after we 
opened on it." 

Third Sergeant Gordon, Company A, also says : 
" The gun that raked the ravine was silenced by Company 
A, after being discharged twice." 

Gordon was acting as lieutenant on that day. 

Note. Extract from a letter of George W. Trickey : "Owing 
to the terrible fire we encountered, our brigade broke but did not 
run nor fall back, Ijut took shelter in a ravine on our right, 
and advanced firing wiienever we could see anything to fire 
at. Sergeant Nudd, George Batchelder, of oiu- comjjany, and several 
men from the Twenty-sixth Connecticut and tiie Sixth Michigan, 
with a captain of that regiment, were with me on one side of the 
ravine, and over on the other side and nearly opposite, were Sergeant 
Orme and John IJeecher, Company I, and several others from our regi- 
ment. We were joined by Corp. Daniel Hu.ssey, witii tlie state colors, 
and we were within forty yards of the rebel parajjet. The coloi--bearer 
of tile Sixth Michigan, with his flag, the stars and stripes, was with us, 
and the position was maintained until dark. We kept up a pretty steady 
fire all the time. We were pretty well sheltered, although a rebel bullet 
would come uncomfortably near us at times. A large rebel gun, some 
say a 24-pounder (Confederate battery No. 24), was silenced and kept 
from firing a shot by the party under Sergeant Orme until dark, when we 
fell back under cover of darkness, our positions being untenable. Not- 
withstanding our repulse we are very much nearer the rebel works than we 
were in the morning, and we are intrenching and shall hold oh to every 
inch of ground we now occupy and advance our lines steadily, and 1 think 
there will be another assault very soon, and 1 hope it will result in the 
capture of the place. We have had re-enforcements since the fight of 
the twenty-seventh, and the boys are in good spirits. 

" 1 wrote you yesterday that our regiment lost sixty-five, nineteen of 
the number l)eing killed, but 1 was wrong. The list I send vou to-day is 
correct. John \). Lamprey, and Abner Morse, of our company, were 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 375 

Reminiscences of Sergt. J. J. Hanson, Company D : 

" The night of the twenty-sixth of May our company was 
sent out in front to a brush fence to stay until they opened 
fire on us ; they did not fire on us until morning. We stood 
all night with our guns resting on the ground, and many a 
man slept with his head resting on the muzzle of his gun. 
They opened fire on us in the morning ; we went over the 
fence and advanced in front until we came to a piece of 
small woods. Here we stayed doing sharpshooting or picket 
duty until the charge was made in the afternoon. We were 
not in the charging column, but we went' as far to the front 
as any of them in the skirmish line, and were with Duryea's 
Second Zouaves, of New York, and it was evening when I 
called the roll that night, as I was acting orderly, as Fir^ 
Sergeant Towle was left at Camp Parapet. I saw General 
Dow just before he fell saying, ' Forward, men ! forward, 
men ! ' " 

killed. Lamj^rey was from Hampton, and Mor.se from Exeter. The 
wounded in Company I were Corps. William Dunn, of Newton, Enos 
Rewitzer (Miller), of Rochester, Privs. John Mahoney and Solomon M. 
Newland, of Rochester, George M. Swain, J. A. Sinclair, Exeter, Aliaert 
G. Tucker and Hiram Welch, of Exeter. 

" Captain Pinkham and Lieutenant Moore were sick at IJaton Rouge, 
and Second Lieut. John O. Wallingford led our company and never 
flinched. 

"In one of my rambles I found a box of rebel clothing; I appro- 
priated a shirt, so to-day I come out in a white shirt. It is coarse, but 
clean. I received from you this morning a letter dated May 9. The 
boys all complain of not receiving letters very often. I am afraid I shall 
not get another opportunity to write so long a letter as this, but I will 
improve every chance I have. I have filled my sheet and must close. I 
expect to go on special duty to-night, and I must try and get a short nap. 
Direct your letters the same as you have, New Orleans, and as I have 
said I will write whenever I have a chance. Remember me to all of 
my friends.'' 

Note. Company D went in at daylight. May 27. Sergeant Hanson 
carried in one hundred rounds, and came out with ten ; guns got hot, had 
to cease firing and cool them, and swab them out with pieces of blouse 
torn off. 



376 The Fiftcciitli Xc7V Hainpshin- I'ohnitccrs. 

Company C Sk.i:iciies. 

Dan B. Gage and John C. Fuller, Company C, on the 
mornin<;- of May 27, US63, ^■olunteered to join the "forlorn 
hope," to go in advance of the storming party and carry 
materials for making bridges or passage ways across the deep 
ditch in front of the rebel parapet, over which it was expected 
the assaulting forces and artillery could cross the ditch and 
scale the enemy's works. A part of these men bore bags of 
cotton, and a part boards. In his own words. Gage told his 
experience to \i. B. I luse, of his compan}-, after the battle. 
He said : 

" We started on the run, our guns strapped to our backs 
and the boards and bags in our hands, but had gone but a 
few rods when a terrible fire was ()j)ened on us from the forti- 
hcaticjns ; shot and shell came whistling and shrieking through 
our ranks; first one man went down at m}- side, then another 
on the other side, and before we reached the ditch I found 
myself almost alone. By good luck I did not get a scratch, 
but I wonder how it was jiossible to cscaj^e in such a rain of 
bullets. It was useless for me to try to go further, so I 
droppetl m\- board, protected mvself as well as I could 
behind the stumps and fallen trees, and used m}- gun. Poor 
John I^'uller started with me but suddenh' disappeared, and 
must ha\e been killed or mortall}- wounded close up to 
the works, and afterwards buried by the enemy, as no 
trace of his bod}' could be fountl. (See i)age 12.) As soon 
as it begun to grow dark, I, with man\- others, some wounded 
and soiue unhui"!, crawled off the field and joined the rem- 
nant of the regiment in the dee|) ra\ ine on the right." 

In the midst of the battle a ])iece of shell struck the gun 
out of Ilanson II. N'ouug's liands, com])letel\- shattering it, 
and si^inuing \'oung round and round like a top. lie was 
badly shaken u]), but did not go to the hos])ital. and soon 
after resumed dut)- and was in the fourteenth of June battle. 



Aj-mv Life at Port Hudson. 



1,77 



James W. Shaw, Company G, fifth sergeant, was on one 
side of the ravine during the fight, and h'irst Sergt. Henry 
R. Brown was on the other. Shaw was smoking his pipe 
right in the battle. He looked up to Brown witli a peculiar 
grin and said, " I stood it pretty well till they began to throw 
old iron at me." He kept on steadil}^ loading and firing. 
The smoke was now so dense that the enemy could not be 
seen. He is reported to ha\e been shot through the wrist, 
but the date is not given. 





HANSON H. YOUNG. 



R. BROWN. 



Irving Whittemore and John (iraham were with Sergt. 
Fernando Parker when he fell. Idiey were behind the up- 
turned roots of a large fallen tree. The sergeant was struck, 
just as he was ramming home a cartridge, by a piece of 
shell, which went entirely through his right breast. 

Sergt. J. A. West, of Pittsfield, sa}-s Ccjmpan)- (i had the 
right of the line in the charge, and passed to the right of the 
Schalter house. As soon as he had crossed the ravine his 
gun was smashed by a Minie ball, the shock of which felled 



378 



The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire \ 'o/iiuteers. 



him to the [(round, and lie secured another from the field. 
He remembers of seein<; 1^'rank (). Pickard there, who was 
only fourteen years of age, and weighed but one hundred and 
five pounds. West's bayonet was struck and broken, and 
his gun received a bullet down its muzzle five or six inches. 
After the battle of May 2^ , sharpshooters were called for 
to advance and cover the retreat. Colonel Kingman took 
out a book and read off the names of twenty or thirty, 
among whom were those of John Ilackett and (ieorge V. 
Keyes. A\ the parapet the boys 
were drilled in marksmanship, 
and the two best shots were 
excused from dut}', and some- 
times ])assed to Xew Orleans, 
111- otherwise favored. They 
became so expert that they 
(luild ]iit tlic mark ex'ery time, 
and their names were handed in 
to the colonel for use on such 
occasions as tliis. W'lien going 
in ilackett remarked to Keyes 
that "if tlicv had known what 
it meant, pcrliajis the}- wouldn't 
liave hit the bullseye .so often." 




Arthur AI. Chase, Company I), hrcd sixty-seven rounds. 
May 27. 

Reminiscences of Mood}- llowland, C"onipan\- C : 

"Was one of the xohmtccrs for the achance guard, and 
carried one of the planks. it was of hard wood, one and a 
half inches thick, a foot wick-, and six feet long. Negroes 
carried jjoIcs. When the rebel gumurs showed themselves 
we fired on tliem, and so kept tlic guns silent. This was 




A. C. HAINKS. 



After rc-turniiiii tVoin his sccdikI L'lilistnient his pursuits were various. 
For seventeen years lie has l)cen connected witli the Newmarket 
National liank. lor the last ei^ht years as cashier. At the present time 
(1900) he is .Senior \'ice Department Commander, I)e])artment of 
New llami)shire. (1. A. U. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 379 

after we had got up front and laid dcjwn. Several of the 
negroes were killed and wounded. I stood on my knees and 
loaded and fired. I came off at sunset. I received a shot 
in the left cheek that glanced down on to the jaw bone, and 
a shot in the arm. A day or two after, the bullet was 
removed from my cheek. I carried my plank across my 
breast. When the rebels opened with grape, one of them 
went through my plank near my arm. I did not miss any 
duty on account of my wounds." 

Reminiscences of G. D. Sanborn, Company V : 

" At sunrise of May 27, the 
Vermont battery opened fire 
from the edge of the woods, and 
the enemy replied immediately ; 
their second shot destroyed a 
wheel of one of the WM-mont 
guns, another took off a tree 
twelve inches through. The 
second sht)t of the \"ermonters 
dropped the rebel flag on the 
parapet. At the time, some of 
Company F were on picket here 
under Sergt. Greenough D. San- 
born ; Sanborn, during the battle, 
fired on the enemy when they 
were jumping by their sally-port 
to mass against Auger. Sanborn did not return his rammer, 
and carried his caps in his vest pocket, so as to work fast, 
and he fired till his shoulder was sore." 

Extract from letter of A. C. Haines, Company D, of date 
May 30. The charge referred to as on the left was that of 
Nickerson's brigade (see page 163) : 




GREENOUGH D. SANBORN. 



380 TJic FiftccutJi Nciv Havtpshirc ]'oluntccrs. 

" Companies D and E were ordcicd out on the evening of 
the twenty-sixth as skirmishers, and went to the further edge 
of the woods, in sight of the enemy's works. The next 
morning, just at daylight, we were ordered across a piece of 
cleared ground into another piece of woods and clear it of 
the enemy's shar])shooters. This was on Wednesday, the 
twenty-seventh day of May, a day that I shall remember as 
long as I live. We had to skir- 
mish through the woods, and 
then tliiough a piece of fallen 
trees up to within about fifty 
}ards of the rebel breastworks. 
The Zouaxes came up in the 
afternoon and intended to go 
on a charge. As soon as they 
got into the cleared ground 
the rebels threw gra])e and 
canister, and it mowed them 
down like grass before the 
sc\thc. rhe\- were cut up in 
r- an awful maimer ; their loss 

m " was more than one hundred 

in killed and wounded, out of 
about four hundred men. To the left of us three regiments 
went on a charge, but they could not stand the grajie and 
canister. .Six companies of the P'iflecnth went on the 
charge. The loss in the r'ifteenth was elexen killed, and 
between forty and fifty wounded. We had only one man 
hurt in our company, and that was by accident, it being a 
flesh wound with abavonet. There were but five Newmarket 
men in the fight. They were ]n\m Hanson, X. Robinson, 
Free Dockum, (ieorge Taylor, and myself. We all came 
out of the fight without a scratch, and are well and ready for 
another scra])e, but I liope we shall meet with better success 




Army Life at Port Hudson. 3^1 




SURGEON HORSCH. (See page 126.) 



382 The Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteers. 

next time. I can't tell when we shall fight again, but I hope 
we sha'n't leave this place till Port Hudson is taken. Our 
colors were riddled with bullets." 

Comrade A. C. Haines fired at a rebel gunner just as he 
was about to pull the lanyard. He was seen to throw up his 
hands and fall. 

Reminiscences of W. I. Coburn, one of the volunteers for 
the advance guard of May 27 : 

" At the point of starting there were teams loaded with 
poles and planks ; there were two or three hundred negroes 
there. Instructions were given by our officer for the negroes 
to carry the poles forward and lay them across the ditch ; 
then the men ha\ing followed up were to lay on their planks 
and fall to firing. As soon as the enemy's fii'c got hot the 
negroes dropped their poles and la)' down. Officers made 
frantic efforts to force them on. The shelling was terrific ; 
a piece struck Thornton in the forehead and spun him round 
and round. Pieces of shell struck my jilank, and bullets 
pierced it as I moved along. We marched in column of 
fours to the right of the Schalter house, following an old 
road, and then de]:)l()yed on the field near tlie house; jxissed 
through a ra\ine on to the field near the works, near enough 
to talk with the enemy. After the repulse someone of them 
asked, ' What brigade was that .' ' Upon being told, he 
replied, ' Tlic)' didn't do very well, did the) .^ ' At this some 
of our men answered that ' We did as well as some Arkansas 
regiments at Jiaton Rouge.' " 

Colonel Kingsley came up and took position behintl the 
same log as Coburn, and fired ox'er it like a conmion soldier, 
till he was shot through the mouth. 



Army Life at Poii Hudson. 



383 




GEN. NEAL DOW. 



384 The luftcciiih .Wri' IlanipsJiirc ]\>/rniti'i'rs. 




I,Ii:i;TKNANT-COI.ONKI, ULAIR. (Sct- page 119. 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 



385 




(SENATOR HENRY W. BLAIR. 



386 The Fifteenth Xei^^ Hampshire W^huiteers. 

Reminiscences of (jcor^e W. l^ailc)', Company C : 

" Was one of the AIa\- 27 achance guard. Lieutenant Bean, 
Company C, came u]). I said to him, ' Vou'd better look out, 
you'll i;et hit.' Ik'an said, 'Where in thunder are }ou .•* ' My 
brother, Ik-n Hailey, was one of these xolunteers. On i^oing- 
out at dark I came across Ben crawling back on his hands 
and knees, ha\ing been woimded in his left leg, near the foot, 
by a piece of shell. He went to the hosjjital awhile, but 
came back before he got well and resumed dut\', and was in 
the fourteenth of June fight. In the middle of the after- 
noon, by the accidental discharge of ni}- gun, a bite was 
taken out of Carlton H. Clough's ear, which always showed." 



Reminiscences of I^rivate Thompson, Company D. The 
charge referred to as on the left was that of Nickerson's 
brigade : 

" Three of our batteries had taken position in our rear, and 
were throwing shell oxer us. A rebel battery ojiened in 
front, and their shells were bursting over our heads. Thinking 
they could not be firing at us, I looked around and saw the 
One Hundred and Sixty-fifth New York coming up in column, 
and for a few moments we devoted all our attention to the 
rebel gunners as the)- exposed tliemsehes in loading the guns. 
We fired with an intense desire that ever\' shot might take 
effect. The One Hundred and Sixty-fifth was a great tleal 
broken when they reached the open ground, but had not lost 
heart. The color-bearer advanced a few rods into the open 
field, and they tried to foini a line of battle, but the tire was 
too hot. Their colonel fell, with many of his men, antl the 
line was broken. 1^'rom my i:)osition, to which I had ad\anced 
into the open field, jxirtly screened by a fiiendly stump, I 
surveyed the field. A little squad of the l-'ouitcenth Maine 
was still standing up in the ojien about three rods in front of 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



387 



me. Our first sergeant, J. J. Hanson, was the only man I 

saw of our company ; he was about a rod in front, shielding 

himself, as I was, which I considered the ' better part of 

valor.' After the attack at the left of us failed, I heard a 

cheer at the right, where the main assault was to be made. 

There was almost a continual roar from our batteries. The 

shells were shrieking overhead and clipping the top of the 

rebel works. The enemy's batteries were active, and the air 

seemed literally filled with the 

missiles of death. But behind 

the long line of rifle pits there 

was no sign of life. I looked 

again to the right and saw the 

long line of blue ad\'ance, with 

flags waving in the gentle breeze. 

I turned my eyes to the silent 

rebel rifle pits. Suddenly above 

them appeared a dark cloud of 

slouched hats and bronzed faces ; 

the next moment a sheet of 

flame. I glanced again to the 

right ; the line of blue had 

melted away, and down across 

the open field came madly 

plunging the war horses of Generals Dow and Sherman, 

wounded unto death. There was nothing more to do but 

wait patiently until the bugle sounded the recall, then 

make our way back under fire. We rejoined our regiment, 

and when night threw its 'sable curtain o'er the earth,' we 

lay down in line of battle and slept the peaceful sleep that 

'tired nature brings,' while many of our comrades up under 

the enemy's guns were sleeping the sleep that knows no 

wakine:." 




GEORGE W. BAII.EY 



Lieutenant Durgin writes of John S. Lancaster as follows 



388 The Fifteenth Xew Hampshire Wilunteos. 

"J. S. Lancaster was one of the best of soldiers. He, 
with several others of my company, were detailed as sharp- 
shooters, and Comrade Bryant says he was near him at one 
time when he was returning his ramrod in the gun when a 
bullet struck it and carried it away. At another lime, Com- 
rade D. P. Mason says he stood near him when a bullet 
struck the breech of his gun and stove that to pieces ; and 
he says not long after that he came across a soldier who had 
been killed, when Lancaster said he was not going to be 
without a gun, and so took one from the dead man. These 
are both reliable witnesses." 

Reminiscences of Sergeant Brown, Company (i : 

" Early this morning we were in line. Shot and shell 
were thrown over the woods ; several struck before the lines, 
burying themselves in the sand. One went directly over my 
head, howling most beautifully ; it struck near headquarters; 
its course could be traced very distinctly as it passed through 
the air. The whole line was moved to the left out of range, 
but soon after we were again obliged to move still further to 
the left. For fear the rebels might attempt to break through 
the woods, a line of ])attlc was formed, four com])anies of the 
Fifteenth on the left, and tlie Twenty-si.xth Counecticut on 
the right. We stood in tlie scalding sun till lo o'clock; no 
rebels appearing, we were ordered forwai"d to the woods ; a 
few minutes aftei" the line was mo\ed twcnt}- or thirt} rods 
further. A severe cannonading commenced at daylight, and 
was kept up all day. After resting awhile in the woods, the 
colonel came up. saying that 'a c-liarge was about to be 
made,' and that ' wc should move forward in a lew minutes.' 
The rebel guns ceased tiring some time ago. it being under- 
stood by us that our batteries had dismounted all they had 
used up to this time. The colonel encouraged the men with 
a little speech, in which he said that we would go o\er the 
works 'without losing half a dozen men.' We were now 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 



389 





AUSTIN WASHBURN — Co. C. 



AUSTIN WASHBURN. 




CORP. JOHN I). WASHBURN— Co. F. 




390 The Fifteenth Nexv Hampshire Vo/nnteers. 

ordered forward into the woods, and marched further to the 
right ; just then another battery of the rebels opened fire, 
and a halt was ordered. A brisk cannonading was kept up 
for some time, when, finding it impossible to silence the 
rebel guns, we were ordered forward into a second piece of 
woods, where Company E was skirmishing. Before starting, 
one of Company I accidentally shot himself in the shoulder 
with his own gun. The ' clearing ' between the rebel 
works and the woods was semi-circular, and this second piece 
of woods was about quarter way between the two and on 
the left of our line (brigade). A line of battle was formed. 
While waiting orders, some of the boys were lucky enough to 
find water, and we refilled our canteens. Numerous blankets 
and haversacks were here thrown away. We were now 
ordered back into the opening, and three lines of battle 
formed — Sixth Michigan in front, One Hundred and 
Twenty-eighth New York and Twenty-sixth Connecticut in 
rear, and Fifteenth New Hampshire in centre. V^olunteers 
were called for, for the advance guard, ten or twelve from 
each regiment ; two volunteered from Comi)any (i, Huse and 
D. K. Nudd. Rebels commenced shelling the woods ; no 
damage was done to any in line, but Sergeant Parker, Com- 
pany E, was killed. The order for an immediate charge was 
countermanded, and we were ordered across the field in the 
face of the rebel batteries ; the advance guard went fiist. the 
regiments following in tliree lines. It happened tlial the 
fence was torn down in two places, and the I^Mfteenth, being 
a little behind, had either to wait until tlie others filed 
through or tear down the fence, 'i'he rebel batteries opened 
fire just at this moment ; a huge shell struck a tree just over 
my head and exploded, throwing the fragments in ever)- direc- 
tion ; no one was seriousl}' injured b\' it ; a horseman was 
struck on the arm by a sjilinter. I heard the shell coming, 
and knew it would strike somewhere near us, but was not 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



391 







a^ 



CORP. CLARK S. WILLEY — Co. D. ARTHUR A. AUSTIN — Co. C. 





DAN. PHILBROOK — Cu. H. 
Of the Band. 



RANSOM S. DAY — Co. C. 



392 TJic FiftccntJi Ncio HainpsJiirc W^liintccrs. 

anticipating quite so close a shave. Two others passed 
directly over our heads before \vc got out of range ; for a 
long time we were exposed to their fire, but fortunately no 
one was killed. The effects of the shot were terrific ; huge 
trees were blown to pieces, ])ierccd through and through, 
torn up, and in many cases cut completely off. A line of 
battle was now formed in rear of Slaughter-house Point. 
Was this an omen of evil.' Here was where the house was 
burned last night. Three guns in front kept up a terrific 
firing, and to avoid the answering shots of the rebels we 
were obliged to lie flat on our faces. Soon the order came 
for the forward movement, and forward we went, double- 
quick, in line of battle, but to get into the field in front of 
the works the regiment had to ' riglit flank, file left,' through 
a narrow lane of thirty or forty rods in length. The rebels 
had complete range of this road, and opened a heavy fire of 
grape and canister. That a man could go through this storm 
of iron hail and li\-e, seemed im])ossible ; the shot struck so 
thick in the sand before us that we were reminded of the 
first drops of a heavy shower. As soon as we passed the 
lane the order was by 'division into line,' Init this was found 
impracticable on account of the roughness of the ground ; 
ravines ran across it in e\ery direction, and into and across 
these were fallen trees, making an almost inijiassal^le hedge. 
It is impossible to describe one's feelings as he first goes into 
battle. I was certainh- batll}' frightened while we were l}ing 
in rear of the batteries waiting the order ' to charge ' ; the 
suspense was almost equal to death itself. While we were 
marching on to the field I felt no worse, and soon began to 
feel an anxiety to liave the affair commence, that it might 
the sooner be o\'er. After the ordei' tor tiling was gi\en, 
and I had discharged ni)- piece a few times, I did not realize 
the danger or feel in the least frightened, altliough, as a shell 
or ball would pass o\er my head, found it imi)ossil)le to resist 



A/wv Life at Port Hudson. 



393 





r 




J. C. BLAIR — Band. 



ISAAC B. HOYT, Co. F, .\nd Sister. 





SERGT. MATTHEW DUTTON-Co. F. SERGT. MATTHEW DUTTON— Co. F. 

^ (At enlistment.) (At discharge.) 



394 '^^^'^ Fifteenth Xav Hampshire ]\^Iuntecrs. 

the inclination to dodge, but of the bullets, though they 
continually hissed by my head like serpents, I took no notice. 
After the firini;- commenced the officers lost all control over 
the men ; each one loaded and fired as fast as possible, fight- 
ing on his own hook, occasionalh' adxancing to get a better 
chance for a shot. Once, while loading my gun, one of the 
men rushed by mc ; instantly a stream of blood covered my 
gunstock and hand. At first I supposed I was wounded, but 
feeling no hurt kej^t on loading and firing. Again, while 
returning the rammer, a huge shell exploded immediately 
over my head, but the pieces all struck beyond me. One 
poor fellow within three feet of me fell badly, if not mortally, 
hurt, but I had no time to look after him. Some men 
displayed great coolness, while others w^ere so excited as 
almost to take away their senses. One of the men (Moses) 
I saw sitting behind a log loading and taking deliberate aim 
as coolly as he would ha\-e done at a shooting match. Ser- 
geant Berry, in attempting to k)ad his gun, found the ball too 
large, took out his knife and whittled it down to the proper 
size; after loading, took out a 'hard-tack,' ate it, then fired. 
A greater mistake than this assault was ne\er made ; many 
lives were lost and nothing accomplished. Opposed to our 
brigade were two brigades of rebels behind formidable earth- 
works, on which were mounted hea\y guns, from which they 
hurled every conceivable missile of destruction, and shot and 
shell not proving effectual enough for their purposes, railroad 
iron, stones, nails, and e\en glass bottles were used. I'^ach of 
the advance guard carried a plank or rail to bridge the moat, 
but some of them ne\er reached it, and but few returned 
alive. Sherman's division was sejiarated from (irover's 
b}' hea\\" woods and i'a\ines, and also from Xickei'son's 
on the left. The fight, or rather slaughter, commenced at 3 
o'clock and lasted till dark ; a retreat was then ordered. Our 
loss was se\ere. ( )ul of the dixision of less than two thou- 
sand, the loss in killed and wounded could not have been 



Aj-my Life at Port Hudson. 



595 




SERGT. JOll.X A. DRAKI-: — Co. K. 








EPHRAIM ELLIOTT -Co. B. 



A. K. liAKM,\ 



396 The Fifteenth Nc7V Hampshire J 'olunteeTS. 

much less than four hundred. Only six companies of the 
Fifteenth were on the field ; eleven or twelve men were 
killed, and from sixty to eighty wounded. The casualties of 
Company G were as follows : S. G. Lovering, killed ; John 
Gate, mortally wounded ; Corp. J. S. Foss, lost fingers ; 
H. S. Allen, wounded slightly in leg; Corp. H. Hook, in 
arm ; Levi Hook, bayonet wound in leg ; Sergeant Ayers, in 
wrist. Several were also badly bruised ; Huse and Nudd 
missing. General Sherman was badly wounded in leg ; 
amputation will probably be necessary. General Dow slightly 
wounded in three places ; Colonel Cowles, One Hundred 
and Twent}-eight]i New York, killed ; also several captains 
and lieutenants ; Colonel Kingsley, Twenty-sixth Connecticut, 
was badly wounded in face ; Lieutenant-colonel Blair was 
wounded in arm. llie color sergeant (Merrick) was badly 
wounded and the colors fell ; it is said that Colonel Kingman 
carried them for awhile. There were many narrow escapes 
during the day. Major Aldrich had his sword scabbard shot 
away ; Sergeant West had the muzzle of his gun shot off ; 
Pickard had his gun shot out of his hands by a grape shot ; 
yet none of these were in the least injured. The day was 
fine but exceedingly hot, and I suffered much from thirst ; 
was quite unwell all da}', and so complcteh' exhausted that 
wlien the retreat was ordered could not get off of the field 
alone. In the evening got into an ambulance and rode to 
our old camp-ground. Considering tlie way the affair was 
managed, the loss of life has been much less than could have 
been expected. Colonel Kingman is now in command of the 
division." 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



397 





EZRA C. BROAD — Co. 

(See page 55.) 



HKNKV S. PERRY — Co. E. 
(See page 75.) 





CHARLES E. WHITE — Co. D. 



CHARLES E. WHITE. 



398 



The Fiftci'utJi Xciv Hampshire l\)hinteers. 



With the descent of the clank night a wondrous quiet steals 
over the face of nature. How still is that field now where 
lie the dead, who late were engaged in the dcadl}- conflict. 



The moon, verging to the 
sheddinu' down a mild ulow. 



full, rides high in the zenith, 
Here and there white wraiths 
of mist rise up, and myriad noc- 
turnal creatures and fire flies 
hum and sing, and a delightful 
fragrance fills the air, as though 
aromatic herbs were crushed. 
The field is searched, and the 
wounded brought off and such 
of the dead as can be safely 
reached. Just as it was growing 
dark our general officers were 
greatly alarmed lest the enemy 
should sally forth, when they 
would find our forces completely 
demoralized ; and so all soldiers, 
without regard to their organiza- 
tion, were gathered up and a pro- 
miscuous line formed near the Schalter house to receive them. 
They made no offensive demonstration, however, and soon, 
under some trees, here in the gathering darkness, an attempt 
was made to assemble the regiment. Less than fifty men 

NoTK. W. I. Cohurn first found John H. Sanborn. He lieard a 
groan, and lookini;, saw it was John; he had crawled into the ravine. 
Irving got iiini up on to level ground; he then .saw some men with 
stretchers and called them, and it proved to be Bill Philbrook, John 
Blake, and Tom Brown. The stretcher was too heavy for Tom, so 
Coburn relieved him, and Tom set off for the regiment, taking Coburn's 
gim along with him. Coburn overtook Tom before he reached the 
regiment and demanded his gun, but Tom didn't know what he had done 
with it. Coburn reported to Lieutenants Seavey and Perkins, and they 
called Tom and sent him for it. He came back soon with a better one 
than the other. 




LIEUT. PICKKRING — Co. A. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



399 





N. B. DAVIS — Co. 



JOHN P. FOGG— Co. D. 






'l^^ 



H. B. FOWLER. 



H. B. FOWLER— Co. F. 



400 The FiftcoitJi Xcio HanipsJiirc ]\)/iintccrs. 

could be gotten together at this time. Anxious inquiries 
were made for missing ones, and none could know whether 
this little remnant might not be all of our splendid regiment 
that would ever meet again. Our colonel, one of whose faults 
as a military man was his excessive leniency and care for the 
]-)ersonal welfare and comfort of his boys, was well nigh o\-er- 
come at the ai:)i)alling situation. The repulse had been 
extremely bloody and disastrous, and the defeat seemed over- 
whelming and complete. The enemy had given a great shout 
of triumph when the end came, and now in gloom and despon- 
dency the regiment sought a bivouac for the night on the edge 
of a heavy wood at the right of the Schalter house, that bor- 
dered that side of a large grassy field. By ones and twos the 
men straggle in, the companies are gotten togethei", and the 
regiment is once more, though somewhat weakened, fully 
reorganized, and like a mighty fallen giant, instantly springs 
to its feet with renewed life and vigor. Many watch as senti- 
nels now while others lie down to sleej:) or ruminate on the 
dav's misfortunes and the h()])es of tlie niorrow. In a soldier's 
life there is no thought of failure — with him it is conquer or 
die ; and covirage must rise as fortunes sink, and efforts be 
put forth in accordance with tlieir gra\it}-. 

NoTi:. Cor|). [olin I). Hlak-c. Company H, says: "In going into 
tlie IkiUIc I met 'riiointoii coming back wounded, with tiie blood ninning 
down Iiis face. 1 said, 'Thornton, vou've got it, haven't you?' He 
said, • \es : a Utile toucli of it, I guess." Just i)etore tliis I saw Cliattel 
fall. He was tlic second man to my left in tlie rear rank. 1 was on tiie 
rigiit of tlie company in the charge. Chattel dropped instantlv dead. I 
heljjed Hill Philbrook ( Sergt. William II., Company 11 ) carry otf Sam 
Jacobs: he was shot in the leg. We went for Jacobs just after sunset ; 
he was wav up front: we got him on to the stretcher and brought him 
half way to the lield iiospital, when he made us leave him and go for John 
Sanborn. • 1 le is wounded worst' than me," he said ; so we rolled him off 
and left him. and went back for John. We got John on as carefully as 
we could, but it made him groiui : we carried him to an ambulance, then 
went back for Jacobs. 1 laid my t;un down to carry o\T Jacobs and 
couldn't find it again, so I took another from one oi the dead of the 
Twentv-sixth Connecticut."" 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 40 1 

Memoranda of Major Aldrich, May 27 : 

'' They kept me on field officer of the day all night of the 
twenty-seventh, making forty-eight hours consecutive duty, 
being told that nearly all the field officers of the brigade had 
been either killed or disabled. I did not get in from the 
battle till dark. The pickets were held up to the same 
advanced line as established the night of the twenty-sixth ; 
the pickets were now set three in a place, so as to relieve 
each other." 

Extract from Major Aldrich's diary : 

" Rebels very busy all night, which kept us on the alert 
with very little sleep. Expected an attack and prepared for 
it." 

Copied from Major Aldrich's diary after the battle. Com- 
pany rolls and roll of the dead may be consulted for more 
accurate returns of the killed and wounded. No full return 
of the wounded was made by any company during the siege. 

Company A — i slightly wounded in hand, 4 missing ; 
61 for duty. 

Company W — i killed, 10 wounded (Lieutenant Wyatt, 
flesh wound in arm), i missing ; 34 for duty. 

Company C — 3 badly wounded, 2 missing; 37 for duty. 

Company D — i wounded slightly, Charles Brown ; 44 for 
duty. 

Company E — i , Sergeant Parker, killed, 2 wounded, i 
missing ; 45 for duty. 

Company E — i killed, 8 wounded; 35 for duty. 

Company G — 2 killed, 8 wounded ; 41 for duty. 

Company H — 2 killed, 9 wounded; 38 for duty. 

Company I — 2 killed, i mortally wounded, 6 wounded. 

Company K — Color sergeant wounded very badly in hip ; 
65 for duty. 



402 TJic Fifteenth N'etv HampsJiire Volunteers. 

Total — 3 officers wounded, 9 men killed, 50 dangerously 
wounded, 4 missing-. 

Company G — Killed: S. G. Lovering. Wounded: Cap- 
tain Osgood, leg slightly ; Lieutenant l^ickering ; Sergeant 
Ayers, hand and wrist ; Corporal Foss, hand ; C^olor Corp. 
Hiram Hook, flesh wound in arm ; Harper Allen, flesh 
wound in leg ; Hugh Brown, foot ; John Cate, mortally ; S. 
Perry, serious wound in bod}- ; Le\i Hook, flesh wound in 
leg; John H. Heath, shoulder; 41 for duty. 

Company I — Killed : J. Lamprc)- and Abner Morse. 
Mortally wounded : Sol. Newlands. Wounded: George Swain, 
slight ; Enos Rewitzer ; William Dunn, thigh ; A. M. Tucker, 
head, slight; J. T. Sinclair, hand; J. Mahoney, badly in 
shoulder and leg. 

Reminiscences of George W. Bailey : 

" Was one of Lieutenant Chadwick's burying party, under 
the flag of truce of the twenty-eighth. Fifteen of the 
Zouaves were buried in one pit. At night was sent out with 
others by moonlight to bury si.x officers' horses ; the enemy 
opened on us and dro\e us off, but before morning we had 
them Inu-ied. When we turned the horses over into the 
graves, thousands of liglitniiig bugs were disturbed." 

Captain Cogswell, who had been sent down river by order 
of the surgeon in chief, in charge of about thirty other sick, 
returned to the front with a negro regiment, arriving on the 
field during the battle of May 27, and resumed command of 
his company. 

NoTK. Memorandum: "Coffee wa.s .served in the afternoon, and 
tea for supper. Colonel Kingman notified to expect attack, and prepare 
for it. The colonel was in negligee, in shirt sleeve.s and smoking caj). 
After his dispositions were made, he expressed himself as very well 
content that the enemy should sally and try our lines." 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



403 



Colonel Kingman says : 

" When I got back off the field at night I found General 
Andrews, of General Banks' staff, there. He made close 
inquiry of me as to the condition of our brigade, and the 
character of the intrenchments, and apparent numbers of the 
enemy. He then told me to assume command of the brigade, 
collect all the men as they returned from the attack, and 
keep them in line with their arms, ready to repel any assault 
from the enemy, as he anticipated an attempt on their part to 
cut their way out and escape toward Jackson, Miss. We lay 
on our arms all night, and collected the dead and wounded." 

The losses for May 27 are officially reported as follows : 





Killed. 


Wounded. 


Missing. 


Total. 


Officers 


15 

278 


90 
1-455 


2 

157 


107 

1,888 


Men 


Total 


293 


1.545 


1.995 





This must be far below the actual loss. Very many of the 
wounded were not reported. Of the missing very many, 
probably nearly all, were killed ; and it appears that among 
the wounded are reckoned the mortally wounded. There was 
no official report of the Fifteenth New Hampshire wounded. 

Note. The body of the poor boy, Aldrich, fell and lay in an exposed 
place where it received several shots after his death. Greenough D.San- 
born, and William and George Baldwin buried him during the truce in a 
grave dug by his side, into which they rolled the body. Sanborn pro- 
cured some cotton and spread over his face. 

Note. One of the enemy showing himself, a Company A man fired 
on him, and he was seen to throw up his hands. Two came toward him 
with a stretcher, but one of Auger's shells came in and dropped one of 
them, when the other fled. 



404 TJie FiftecntJi Neiv Hampshire Volunteers . 

Company B Items — May 27. 

Benjamin F. Adams was just aiming to fire when he 
received a shot through the heart and fell forward, his piece 
discharging as he fell. 

Sergt. Thomas A. Barstow received a Minie ball in the 
thigh, shattering the bones ; received a second wound in the 
other leg below the knee by a grape shot. The bones and 
tendons were so completely severed and lacerated by this 
latter wound that on turning the limb above the wound the 
lower portion would not move with it. He was borne from 
the field at dark, and expired soon after reaching the hospital. 

John D. Brooks was wounded by a fragment of shell which 
carried away the hair on top of his head clean to the scalp. 
Two men fell in front of him just as he got fairly into the 
fight, and at that instant a missile shattered his gun. He 
was just reaching for the gun of a fallen comrade when he 
received his wound, which rendered him unconscious for an 
hour or two. Upon recovering consciousness he saw Lieuten- 
ant Wyatt coming back with his wounded arm dressed. He 
was sent to hospital at Carrollton. Henry Cook, then acting 
as a cook in the hosj)ital, and wishing to rejoin his company. 
Brooks took his place in the hospital and Cook went uji river 
to the front. 

Hiram 1{. Clark was struck over the eye ; severe wound ; 
bled profusely. Did not recover so as to do further service. 

Charles H. Willey, after the battle, said to some of the 
band boys, " I know just where Sergeant Barstow lies, and 
will go with you to get him." On going up they were fired 
on, and Willey's ankle was crushed, in consequence of which 
his leg was amputated, and death ensued. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 405 

Memorandum of Lieutenant .Parker, Company E : 

" Moved back into the woods and supported battery ; took 
a detail and brought in Fernando's body and buried him 
about 5 p. M. Slept on our arms, expecting an attack." 

Company H sent three to hospital — Corporal Hubbard, 
and Privates Rollins and Fife. 

Reminiscences of Lieutenant Page : 

" After Wyatt was wounded, on May 27, Lieutenant Page 
had command of Company B for three or four days. About 
June I was sent to hospital at Carrollton, and Lieutenant 
Perkins, Company H, was assigned to command of Company 
B temporarily." 

Reminiscences of Sergt. William H. Philbrook, Com- 
pany H (an unauthorized flag of truce) : 

" In regard to the flag of truce that was raised at Port 
Hudson, it was the next day after the first general charge on 
the enemy's works. You remember there was a road along 
by the side of the ravine, which I got quite well acquainted 
with the day of the charge. As you remember, Sam. Swain 
got wounded. I was up in the road, and Sam. came up out 
of the ra\'ine where I was with the blood streaming down 
over his face, and I went and led him back off of the field 
and turned him over to some one else, and then returned 
right up the road again, as far as the big log, which was as 
far as any one got that day. Well, the next day, I should 
say about 8 or 9 o'clock in the forenoon, J. J. Burley and I 
thought we would crawl up the ravine and see if we could 
find any one that we knew that was killed or wounded. We 
thought perhaps we might find some one wounded that we 
could help, and we took our canteens full of water and 
started. We did not find an}' wounded, but we found some 



406 TJic Fiftccjith Nc%v HampsJiirc Wiluntccrs. 

dead that belonged to our company. We worked our way 
along up so near the enemy's works that they began to get 
up in sight, and we got up so near that we could be heard 
by each other by speaking loud ; then wc \entured up into 
the road. We had some canes, or I had one, wliich I had 
picked up, and just before I got up into the road I saw a 
piece of white cloth which had evidently been prepared for a 
bandage but never had been used. After we got into the 
road we saw the rebs getting up in sight all along the parapet, 
and I put the white rag up on my cane. I should say tliat 
we were then about thirty or forty rods from the rebs' works ; 
as soon as I did this the rebs began to come out. I should 
say there were about one hundred and fifty ot them came 
out, and our boys began to come up, and we had a good 
social time. The rebs were all out of tobacco, and our boys 
were very liberal with them ; they were willing to give most 
anything they possessed for a little tobacco. I presume you 
remember wliat a social time we had, and when we were all 
ordered back, how we shook hands all around with the rebs 
and told them that after they got back we shtnild shoot 
them if we could." 

NoTK. Extracts from diary of E. B. Huse, Company C, Fiftccntli 
New Hampshire \'olunteers, on detaclied service with Capt. Adam 
Badeau, of Oen. Tliomas W. Slierman"s stafl": 

''Captain ISadeau was actinj^- commissary of musters, and I was detailed 
a.s clerk in his office, in New Orleans, and made out the muster-rolls 
whenever any men were enlisted, or officers anived, or were i)romotetl. 

" Thursday, May 21. This niornin<; orders were given to pack up and 
be ready to go aboard boat for Baton Rouge. General Sherman and 
staff, and all the headquarters' clerks and orderlies packed up this fore- 
noon and went aboard the steamer " St. Mary," at New Orleans. Started 
at I o'clock 1'. M. ; called at Carrollton and took on board a lot of officers 
and men who did not get on the boats which left Carrollton this morning. 

" Friday, May 22. Arrived at Baton Rouge at 3 o'clock this morning, 
just as the day was breaking, and commenced to unload from the boat on 
to transportation wagons. The Fifteenth regiment had gone along to 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 407 

Springfield Landing with tlie rest of the division. Our wagon train 
started for Port Hudson, eighteen miles, about 1 1 o'clock in the forenoon, 
General Sherman and staff mounted, and going ahead. The day was 
hot and the roads terrible dusty, but we made a distance of some twelve 
miles at 6 o'clock p. M., and camped for the night about six miles from 
the rebel lines. iMet fifty or sixty rebel prisoners, which our. advance had 
captured and were taking to Baton Rouge. They were really the first 
rebels we had seen since coming to Louisiana. Got a little bread and 
coffee for our supper, and camped on the ground. A shower to-night has 
laid the dust and cooled the air. 

" Saturday, May 23. Arose this morning well rested, and soon were 
on our way again towards Port Hudson ; now almost directly in the rear 
of the place, pretty well on the left of the fortifications. Marched about 
two and a half miles and came to the main body of Sherman's division. 
Hard shower about dark. Went over to the Fifteenth regiment, and found 
the boys feeling well and in good spirits. General Banks is reported to 
be on the right above Port Hudson, and General Grover and General 
Auger in the centre, wliiie our division (Sherman's) will hold the left. 

" Sunday, May 24. The troops moved up two miles this forenoon, 
and drove the rebels out of their first line of entrenchments back through 
the belt of woods. Our picket line to-night is beyond the woods, and in 
plain sight of the rebels' main line of fortifications. A good deal of 
picket firing. Sherman's headquarters are on the road tliat lams into 
Port Hudson, and near an old cotton gin. 

" This afternoon General Banks and General Grover, with one or two 
members of their staffs, held a consultation in General Sherman's tent. 
They went over the plan of operations that had been laid out, had maps 
of the country and of the rebel works, and seemed to feel confident that 
when tlie attack was made it would be successful. As I understood from 
their conversation, General Banks' plan was to make a simultaneous 
movement along the whole line at daybreak, just as soon as everything 
could be got ready — probably within two or tluee days. General 
Banks appeared to be very confident of the result as he and General 
Grover left (ieneral Sherman's quarters. At this time I was lying on 
the ground just outside the tent, and in charge of Captain P)adeau"s 
camp desk, containing the muster rolls, and could not help seeing and 
hearing the conversation of these officers. 

"Monday, May 25. A beautiful day; quite warm, but nice breeze 
blowing. To-day Sherman's headquarters were moved up nearer the 
main body. Company C, of the Fifteenth, is detailed to-day to guard 
the baggage. Considerable picket firing, and several soldiers wounded. 



408 TJic Fifteenth N'eiv HampsJiire Volunteers. 

The rebels opened fire with their batteries this afternoon, and one man in 
the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh New York was killed, and two or 
three wounded. Heavy firing by mortar boats on the river and batteries 
this evening. Six men in the First Vermont battery wounded by shells 
from the rebel works. Prospect the battle will not open before Wednes- 
day. Ammunition wagons are constantly moving to the front. I sleep 
in a baggage wagon to-night. Our boys all feeling well and not injured 
so far. 

"Tuesday, May 26. The .sun came up clear and hot this morning. 
All night the rebel batteries and our mortar boats kept up a cannonading ; 
several shells passed over our heads, having cleared the woods, but did 
no damage except to stampede some of the cavalry horses that were 
picketed in our rear. This afternoon the batteries kept up a heaw firing. 
About sunset to-night I went over through the woods to our front line of 
pickets; got a good view of the rebel earthworks and fiags. The First 
Vermont battery, stationed in the edge of the woods, has been slKlling 
the rebel works. The rebel sharpshooters, located in a house about half 
way from woods to fortifications, ha\e been giving our pickets much 
trouble, and also the \'ermont battery. Tliis afternoon the batter\- con- 
centrated tlieir fire on the house — said to l)e a jjlanter's byname of 
Schalter — and succeeded in burning it and driving the rebels out of it. 
The talk to-night is that early to-morrow morning the assault will be made. 

"Wednesday, May 27. The day opened warm and pleasant. Fvery- 
tliing being made ready for the attack. Heavy firing going on, on the 
right and centre, since earl_\- this morning; reports tiiat our trot)ps have 
got through the works on tlie riglit. .Sheiinan's division for some reason 
did not move till past noon. Two brigades, led by General Sherman, 
charged on the works, (ien. Neal Dow was severely wounded in the 
commencement of the engagement. The fire tVom the rebels was so hot 
that hundreds were cut down, and after fighting three hours with great 
loss, our troops slowly fell I)ack. Cienfral Sherman received a gunshot 
wound in the riglit leg below the knee, sliattering the bone, and liis aid- 
de-camp, Capt. Adam IJadeau. had a bullet througli liis foot. He was 
bravely leading his men, on liorsehack. .Stork, his ortlerlv, was terribly 
shot in the face and nioutli, and througli liis private jKUts, b\' a charge ot 
grape. To-night hv lias been lirou^lit back to lieadcjuarters and his 
wounds dressed. Hinuhvds of wounded lia\e been brought iiack to the 
hospital, main of them fatal. Our losses are very heavy. The Fifteenth 
is badly cut up. Can't get nian\- |)articulars to-night, as in the darkness 
it would be impossible to tind tlieni. ( "lener.d .Sherman is in his own 
lent at his headquarters, and Capl.iin Hadeau in his tent, (ieiieral Slier- 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 409 

Thursday, May 28, was a most beautiful semi-tropical day. 
At 3 o'clock, in the quiet, dewy morning. Companies A and I 
are advanced as pickets and sharpshooters, and, as will 
appear, were relieved at 3.30 v. m. While going into posi- 
tion. Sergeant Courtland discovered the body of Lieut. -Col. 
James O'Brien, of the Forty-eighth Massachusetts, who had 
fallen in yesterday's assault. Sergeant Trickey, and three 
others, tenderly bore the body to a place of burial. All 
superior officers now being killed or wounded, Col. Kingman 
is in command of General Dow's brigade ; Lieutenant- 
colonel Blair is sent to hospital with his wounded arm ; Major 
Aldrich, who has been very busy, as has been shown, for 
thirty-six hours already, is reappointed field officer of the 
day, nearly all other officers being disabled. Before light the 
batteries open up with redoubled vigor, and the picket firing 
increases to a brisk fusilade. Just at dawn our line is 
formed, except A and I, for roll-call, and to account for the 
dead, wounded, and missing. After a breakfast of hard 

man has been put under influence of chloroform or ether, and is shouting 
crazy ; has refused to ha\e hi.s leg amputated. He and Captain Badeau 
will both be sent to New Orleans as soon as possible. About sunset I 
went over to the field hospital to see if I could rind or hear from any 
of the Fifteenth boys. 

" Thursday, May 28. Sergeant Barstow, Company B, and Isaac W. 
Smitli, Company C, were both severely wounded through their bodies 
and brought into the field hospital last evening, i)ut tlie surgeons said 
there was no hope for them, and they died early in tlie morning. It was 
a sad sight to see those two great, stalwart men la\ing there side by side, 
cold in death. Our troops still hold their positions well up towards the 
enemy's fortification : the Johnnies don't seem to understand how badly 
we were used up, and show no desire to come outside in force. George VV. 
Young, Company F, wlio was shot through the body — apparently through 
the abdomen — was taken to hospital Wednesday night. Surgeons said 
nothing could be done for him, but he sivore lie ivoiild not die, and hasn't 
yet, but was able to be sent to the hospital at New Orleans." [He 
recovered and came home with the regiment, and died in New Hampshire 
somewhere a few years ago — about 1890.] 



4IO The Fifteenth Xeio Havipshire Vo/ii>iteers. 

bread, salt meat, and coffee, a flag of truce was raised by 
Colonel Kingman, but which the enemy would not recognize 
till noon. After this our regiment moved from the open 
field where they lay last night, into the overshadowing woods, 
and rested quietly there till after the truce, which was granted 
from 12 to 2 o'clock for the purpose of removing and bury- 
ing our dead ; the wounded and some of the dead had been 
already brought in on the previous night. During this truce 
Lieutenant Perkins brought off the body of James G. Morri- 
son, and saw it buried in a beautiful and quiet s}X)t beneath 
overhanging branches. A lO-inch une-xj^loded shell was 
placed at his head, measures taken from surrounding objects 
to mark his resting place, and Comrade Moore, of the 
Londonderry boys, an old neighbor, spent the day in carving 
on a piece of board his name, company, regiment, and place 
of residence. Morrison was a true, a quiet, and honest man, 
a deep thinker, a philosopher, a brave soldier, and mourned 
by all according to his high worth. He had been our cook 
for many weeks, but on going to the front resumed the ranks. 
The general burying party was in charge of Lieutenant 
Chadwick. A soldier's grave was dug, four feet in depth, and 
six feet wide, and of great length, into wliich were tenderly 
])]aced the gory and blackened bodies, with their heads to 
the west, their blankets spread over all, the earth lejilaced 
and mounded uj), and thus the\' were left on the blooch' field 
where they fell. 

NoTK. .Mav 28. 8.40 .\. M. Fla,<i-,<ie(l from the '• Hartford," — Fana- 
gut — al)()\x- Port Hudson, to tlic " Kiclmioiid."" hclow Port Hudson: 

"The Conimo(U)re is Iiun!;erin,!j; and tllirstin^■ for news: keep liini 
posted." 

" An assault was made \esterda)'. (Jenerals Sherman and Dow 
wounded.'' 

" Was the army loss heavy?" 

" 1 know no more." 



I 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 41 1 

During the truce our men and the enemy met and con- 
versed, and were very poHte and affable. In one place on the 
field the ground was piled thick with the fallen ; they lay 
dead in their harness, many still grasping their rifles, and 
some with their dismantled havei sacks shedding their contents 
on the ground. Horses lay around, the steed and his rider 
being both overthrown, and other scattered dead lay hid- 
den in bushes and behind logs and stumps. Broken muskets 
and general debris littered the ground. But at the close of 
the truce hostilities reopened on the instant. A moment's 
notice was given. Good-byes were said, and hearty hand- 
shakes exchanged, and we were warned by our beleagured 
friends to look out for oursehes, as they should kill us if 
they could. 

Lieutenant Perkins, with two companies, one of which was 
Company C, Captain Lang having been sent to hospital, 
went on picket at 3.30 o'clock, and relieved Companies A 
and L Coffee was served during the afternoon, and tea for 
supper, and now notice is received that a sortie may be ex- 
pected, and to prepare for it. Accordingly, at 5 o'clock, the 
regiment was advanced across a slight opening to other 
woods, and just as it was growing dark — at 7.30 — and 
some were throwing themselves in their blankets on the 
ground. General Auger, on our immediate right, became hotly 
engaged, and our line was formed and two sections of the 
Indiana batter}- brought up to our support. W'e finally lay 
down on our arms, and were not molested through the night. 
This engagement lasted nearly two hours. It was said to 
have been an attack on Grover and an attempt of the enemy 
to break through our lines ; but they were reported to have 
been repulsed and an outwork of theirs and some of their 
men captured. Those on line slept soundly till morning, 
although the gunboats, and the sharpshooters and pickets 
continued firing through the night. 



412 The Fifteenth Xezv Hampshire WTlunteers. 

At 9 o'clock our pickets, under Lieutenant Perkins, were 
advanced through slashing into close proximity to the enemy's 
works ; while thus near, Perkins reported that there was 
great seeming commotion within the Confederate lines — 
camp wagons rumbling continuously, possibly gathering up 
their dead and removing them to a place of burial. It 
appears at this time that two of our companies, as a rule, are 
kept on picket and sharpshooting, while the others, appar- 
ently resting, were in reality constantly on duty in support 
of the Indiana and Vermont batteries. And thus the day 
and the night wore away. During this night, too, hundreds 
of cattle were driven from the works through the sally-ports, 
and the next day they were all around us browsing in the 
woods. 

On May 28, John Kimball, Company B, and Isaac Smith, 
Company C, died. 

Reminiscences of Major Aldrich, May 28 : 

" Still on duty as field officer of the day. Karl)- in the 
morning was on the picket line ; when coming back ran upon 
the dead body of a Massachusetts lieutenant-colonel * to the 
right. Mad heard that the lieutenant-colonel of the One 
Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York — Colonel Cowles' 
regiment — was missing since the burning of the Schalter 
house. I thought it must be Cowles' lieutenant-colonel, and 
so ie]X)rted, but it i)rovc(l to be a Massachusetts ofificer. He 
must liaxe been shot l)}' tlie encm)''s sharpshooters on the 
morning of tlie twcnt\-sc\cnth, and was j^robably a field 
officer of the day on th;it part of the line. Tlie One Hun- 
dred and 'r\vent}'-ei,i;luii lieutenant-colonel had been captured 
by the enem\', and taken in 1)\- them, as afterwards pro\ed, 
and was surrendered with the place." 

* NOTK. Probably Colonel L'hapin, of tlie One Huiulrcd and Si.xtccnth 
New York. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



413 




JOHN ALDRICH. Late Major of the Fifteenth New Hampshire VoluiUei: 



414 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire W^huiteers. 

May 29. A singular misadventure hai)]:)ened at 2 o'clock 
in the afternoon, when an orderly from (ieneral l^anks — a 
Louisiana cavalryman, an Irishman — spurred up to Colonel 
Kingman's headquarters, leaving some papers and taking a 
receipt. He then inquired of Major Aldrich for General 
Nickerson's headquarters. The major directed him down a 
certain path, where he should take another to the left for a 
half mile. He took the wrong trail to the Schalter house, 
where the pickets essayed to halt him, but he waved his 
papers and dashed on, and in a moment was right under the 
enemy's guns, on our battle-field of the twenty-seventh. He 
was ordered by them to dismount and come in, which he did, 
leading his horse, very much astonished and crestfallen at his 
sudden change of fortune. The pickets who witnessed this 
thought him a deserter, and our colonel, who was an on- 
looker, and who, like George Washington, could use strong 
language at times, is said to have exclaimed, " He is a 
rebel spy ! " It proved to be simply an Irish bull. 

During the day, McGregor, Company H, visited the hos- 
pital to see his youthful companion and tent mate, J. H. 
Sanborn, who was badly wounded in the battle of the twenty- 
seventh. The hospital was established under an immense 
roof which stood on posts, and was all open at the sides, and 
was an old cotton shed. The floor was the giound, and was 
completely covered with those awaiting the surgeon's knife. 
Tables were set up in the midst, where attendants lifted the 
sufferers on and off as the dreadful work of amputation went 
on. The limbs were thrown on a jmIc, whence they were 
removed by a team and buried. Many of the mortally 

NoTK. Extract from diary. May 29: " Last night Banks opened on 
the riglit with shot and shell at dark, and followed it up with the whole 
brigade of infantry. The fighting was terrific for two hours, and shelling 
from rtcct. Tills was in Auger's division. It was understood that the 
enemy atlcmjjted to break out, l)ut were rejnilsed." 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 41 5 

wounded who knew they had but an hour to Hve were giving 
off messages to comrades to be sent as last words to loved 
ones at home. In his search he passed one such who sat 
upright on some rude box, whose voice trembled with his 
failing strength. The shot had passed through his bowels, 
leaving gaping wounds at its entrance and exit, which were 
laid bare, and to them a friend was applying water. Sanborn 
was at last found, lying on his back on the ground, directly 
under the eaves' drippings of the roof, his case not yet having 
been reached. His wound was by a Minie ball in the thigh, 
too high to admit of amputation, and he was removed to New 
Orleans, where he died six days after the battle. Imme- 
diately after leaving the hospital for the front again, the path 
led close along the heads of a long row of the dead, lying 
side by side on the smooth grass, who had l^een brought from 
the hospital for burial. Death ofttimes resembles sleep and 
always should, and be as welcome when there is no violation of 
nature's laws and kindly rule ; but here he bears an hideous 
aspect, with matted and dishevelled locks, faces black and 
covered thick with their own clotted blood, clothing saturated, 
straws and twigs and sand adhering ; swarms of buzzing flies 
start from them as one passes in the hot sun. 

Note. General Gardner having been ordered to evacuate Port Hud- 
son, by order dated May 19, Col. Jno. L. Logan, C. S. A., in report to 
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. A., dated Clinton, La., May 29, says: 
" I have no communication from General Gardner since the twenty- 
fourth. On that night he intended to come out, and ordered me to place 
my forces so as to assist him, which 1 did. 1 think he found it impossi- 
ble to cut his way through, and has perhaps concluded to remain to 
defend the place as long as he can, hoping to be reheved by re-enforce- 
ments. I am at this place with a small command of cavalry and mounted 
infantry, twelve hundred men, doing all 1 can to aid General Gardner by 
dashing upon the enemy's lines, destroying his wagon train, etc., draw- 
ing the enemy's troops away from Port Hudson." 



4i6 The Fifteenth Nezv HajupsJiire Volioiteers. 

May 30 proved a day of comparative rest and quiet. The 
sun rose bright, but soon after was obscured in haze and 
smoke. A detachment of "contrabands" is set to work in 
our front throwing up a breastwork for guns. There is con- 
siderable cannonading through the day, and incessant firing 
between the pickets and sharpshooters. Company K goes 
on picket at 3 o'clock v. m., near General Auger, for the 
night. Mortar boats fire all night. The enemy are building 
new additional works to protect their guns. Our people have 
built Battery 13. The sick and wounded go to Carrollton by 
the "Sally Robinson," including Lieutenant-colonel Blair, 
Sergeant Brown, Company G, Sergeant Hussey, and Private 
Comfort Merrill, Company A. They arrived at Carrollton at 
4 o'clock p. M. 

May 3 1 , Sunday, was a very pleasant day. There is heavy 
cannonading on both sides all day, and picket firing and 
sharpshooting, but no casualties on our part of the line. The 
boats on the river front keep up a constant fire. Companies 
D and K are advanced as sharpshooters at 11 a.m., and 
remain till 5 p. m., when thev returned to camj:) in the " big 
woods." While reaching their position and being posted, 
they crawled on the ground under stumps and logs and in the 
brush to avoid the enemy's shots. The enemy are observed 
to be very busy all day, and an attempt on our lines is 
expected to-night, and all our forces are so disposed as to be 
immediately available. The One Hundred and Sixty-second 
New York comes to our assistance. Two spies are captured. 
Toward night Companies A, 1), H and I were ordered out 
to support a battery and act as sharpshooters. But Com- 
pany D, Captain Johnson in command, returned at sunset. 
Companies A, H and I were out all night. Lieutenant 
Perkins was in command of Company H. Our whole division 

Note. General .Sherman was succeeded by 15ri<j.-(ien. George L. 
Andrews, General Banks' chief of staff. Brig. -Gen. Frank S. Nickerson 
assumed command May 28 and Brig.-Gen. William Dwight May 30. 



Army Life at Port Hiidscm. 4 1 7 

works nights, under cover of our artillery, trenching and 
throwing up earthworks for siege batteries. These batteries 
were masked with brush. When Company D left Camp 
Parapet several were in hospital, some were detailed, and 
others, for various reasons, remained behind. Who these all 
were it may be hard to tell with absolute accuracy at this late 
date, and from the data at hand. On the date of embarka- 
tion, one non-commissioned officer, Sergt. J. J. Swain, and 
fourteen privates are reported sick. Henry M. Bryant and 
Stephen Hilton have rejoined the company, so now the full 
roll of those who reached Louisiana stands at eighty-eight. 
Of these five have died, reducing the number to eighty- 
three ; four ai-e detailed, which reduces the number present 
to seventy-nine. Of these fifteen or more are left behind at 
the Parapet, thus leaving perhaps sixty-four who went up the 
river on the " United States." Of these two are musicians, 
two are cooks, and one is absent without leave during the 
siege, so that the actual combatants, including the captain 
and first lieutenant, w^ere about fifty-nine who actually reached 
the front. And now, at the end of May, Company D 
reports present for duty Capt. Johnson, Lieutenant Chad- 
wick, and 43 men. 

Reminiscences of Lieut. Elbridge G. Wood, Company K : 

" On the night of May 3 1 , Larkin was assigned, with 
twenty men, to spike some rebel guns. As we went down 
into the ravine beyond the Schalter house, the full moon came 
out ; we reached a log five feet through and about thirty feet 
long. He posted his men behind this log and said, ' Wait 
here and I will reconnoiter.' It seemed the enemy had a 
post right by this log, but fell back as we approached. Lar- 
kin came back soon and reported that the gun was a dummy." 



4i8 



The Fifteenth N'ezv HarnpsJtire W^bniteers. 



It was Gen. Beall's (C. S. A.) brigade which confronted 
General Sherman on May 27. General Beall reports his 
losses up to J Line i as follows : 



Command 



First Alabama, Company K 

Forty-ninth Alabama 

Tenth Arkansas 

Twelfth Arkansas 

Fifteenth Arkansas 

Sixteenth Arkansas 

Twenty-third Arkansas 

First Arkansas Battalion 

Twelftli Louisiana Artillery, Company D 

Watson^s Battery 

First Mississippi 

Thirty-ninth Mississippi i 

First Mississippi Artillery 

First Tennessee Artillery, Company B. 
First Tennessee Artillery, Company G. 

Total 



I 5 



68 



194 



30 



96 



4 
32 
83 
14 
81 

5 

40 

2 

6 

12 

19 
6 

44 
4 
6 

358 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 419 

May 3 1 , there were present for duty, of Company A, 
Captain Cogswell and Lieutenant Pickering, and 60 enlisted 
men; Company B, 36 enlisted men ; Company C, Lieutenants 
Haseltine and Bean, and 39 enlisted men ; Company D, Cap- 
tain Johnson, Lieutenant Chadwick, and 39 enlisted men ; 
Company E, Captain Stearns, Lieutenant Parker, and 53 
enlisted men ; Company F, Captain Gordon, and 41 enlisted 
men ; Company G, Lieutenant Pickering, and 40 enlisted 
men ; Company H, Captain Sanborn, Lieutenants Seavey 
and Perkins, and 36 enlisted men ; Company I, Lieutenant 
Wallingford, and 52 enlisted men ; Company K, Caj^tain 
Hall, Lieutenants Wood and Larkin, and 64 enlisted men. 
Totals, 6 captains, 1 1 lieutenants, and 460 enlisted men. 
Lieutenant Larkin, of Company K, takes command of Com- 
pany B, Lieutenant Wyatt having been wounded and 
Lieutenant Page sent to hospital. 

June I, Monday. Day mostly clear and pleasant ; at times it 
threatened rain, but none fell. The regiment still bivouacs 
in the pleasant woods back of the Schalter house. Comj^any 
inspections were held at 9 o'clock. Regular siege operations 
are now on foot ; heavy guns are brought up ; the woods are 
full of shovels, picks, axes, wheelbarrows, and other tools, 
and intrenching and building earthworks and platforms, and 
cutting and hewing timber for same, and lugging it in and 
placing it in position and mounting guns, goes on night 
and clay. Our artillery and the fleet fire constantly on the 
enemy. There is no picket firing in our immediate front, 
the enemy for some reason remaining silent. Cok)nel Grier- 
son is seen around our camp ; he looks rough and soiled. 

Note. Captain (lordon, after the battle, hearing tint (ieorge W. 
Young wa.s .severely wounded, sought him at the ho.spital, where he was 
told by the .surgeon that Young's injuries were fatal. Stooping over 
Young the captain said, " Well, you got hit."' "Yes," Young replied, 
"and they say Tm going to die, but I shall not; I'm going home with 
you." Young recovered and rejoined the company just before embarking 
for home. 



420 Tlic Fifteenth Xczu HmnpsJiirc Volunteers. 

Fifty men of our regiment are on picket duty to-day. Dress 
parade at 5 p. m., when orders were read. George W. Web- 
ster, Company H, died. 

June 2, Tuesday. A most beautiful day. Our camp in 
the woods was shelled last night, and in the early morning, 
just before roll-call, five or six lo-inch shells were pitched 
over which fell right into our midst. One of the New York 
boys was killed by a shell at midnight, and I^lkins, Company 
I, was wounded by a fragment. At 9.30 o'clock Captain 
Johnson is detailed field ofificerof the day, and has charge of 
a large party of pickets and sharpshooters. He ad\anced 
them fifty rods into the slashing and fallen timber. At 10 
o'clock General Banks, with attendants, comes up to our front 
and views the situation through a glass. Captain Gordon, 
with his company, are on picket, and were for a time under a 
sharp fire. In the afternoon an opossum came in amongst 
us and ran up a tree ; one of the boys climbed for it and 
found a nest of its young, one of which he brought down. It 
created quite a little diversion. It is a comical sight to sec 
the mother opossum transporting her young on her back, 
each with his tiny prehensile tail twined around the mother's, 
which she carries in ]X)sition above her back for their accom- 
modation. Lieutenant Perkins goes on picket at 3 i'. m. 
Major Aldrich is held officer of the day from 4. At 7 in the 
evening. Companies D, E, H, I, and K are advanced on 
picket and in support of batteries, their officers accomi:)anying 
them. 

I'jioch IVI. \'oung, Coini)an}' (i, dies at New Orleans. 

John II. .Sanborn, Comj^an)' li, dieS' at New Orleans of 
wounds received Ma\' 27. 

But let us now follow a day and a night liastily tlirough. 
There is roll-call at daybreak, noon, and sunset. Our rations 
are brought to the front by the cooks in great camp kettles 
suspended on poles ; there is coffee or tea, strong and black. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 421 

without milk or sugar ; sometimes a kind of soup is brought 
up, and there is boiled salt beef and raw pork, either of 
which is eaten with our hard bread. The details are heavy 
for the picket line, and for fatigue duty on the batteries 
and in the trenches. Thousands of negroes are picking 
and shoveling, as well as the soldiers, on the disputed open 
ground between us and the enemy, and gradually advancing 
the trenches and rifle pits toward their parapet. Now the 
orderlies can, in making their details, favor those who prefer 
sharpshooting, and those who would rather shovel. After the 
details are made, those who are not on duty may view the 
situation and crawl into ravines and pick berries. Let us 
step now, say at noon, to the edge of the woods and peer out. 
Across a narrow opening there the enemy's parapet confronts 
us and zigzags away to the right and left beyond the reach 
of our vision. We are nearly opposite their centre ; their 
works may be entirely silent now, and none of their men are 
to be seen ; but their works are manned ; the Confederate 
soldiers lie thick behind them all armed and ready to fire on 
the instant. Their guns are leveled across their parapet 
through loop holes formed by three sand bags — two laid 
side by side a little apart, and one across on top — and 
thousands of unseen eyes are watching them night and day. 
Should now our men make a show of ad\'ancing in any force, 
that parapet would burst into flames as if by magic. But 
within their lines are trees and woods ; concealed in them, 
and perched in the trees, are many of their riflemen. E.xpose 
yourself now, or make some stir, and that instant a bullet 
will whistle by you ; another will follow right along appar- 
ently within an inch of your ear. One of their sharp- 
shooters has got your range, and his next shot will drop you 
unless you seek protection. You do not see this marksman 
in his butternut and slouched hat, nor hear the crack of his 
rifle, but our hundreds of sharpshooters and advance pickets, 



42 2 TJic FiftccntJt Nciv Hampshire Volunteers. 

who are right in sight before us, lining our trenches and 
ensconced in gopher holes and behind stumps and logs, watch 
close to make out the smoke from his gun. Even this is 
almost imperceptible in the glare of the hot, bright day. 
The following incidents will illustrate this : There was one 
red-shirted rebel sharpshooter posted in their trees who was 
particularly bold and skillful with his rifle. Jim Moses 
(Company G) asked to be stationed opposite this man, and 
Sergeant West so posted him. In the forenoon the sun was 
at Moses' back and cast a shadow that faxored the rebel 
taking his sight. But at noon the shadows fell right to be 
favorable to Moses, when they opened and duelled at each 
other till 3 o'clock, at which time the red shirt disappeared 
and was never seen afterwards. Captain Gordon was one 
day on an eminence with some of the Sixth Michigan boys, 
who were using "Henry" rifles; they were provided with 
telescopes. One of them said, " Look through this glass." 
The captain looked, and in the distance a rebel mounted the 
parapet, and as one of our men fired he saw the bullet strike 
in front of the rebel, and it seemed to go right through him. 
All around our six miles of lines our men are thus engaged 
in sharpshooting, and thousands are picking and shovelling 
in the trenches. Our artillery firing is unremitting; at 10 
o'clock it becomes terrific, and continues through the day. 
Sixteen cannon, in our immediate front, fire twenty-fi\'e shots 
per minute. Our riflemen's bullets graze the top of the 
enemy's parapet and throw up little clouds of dust, and the 
mighty bolts from our batteries, which are in the edge of 
the woods fronting the enemy, rush across the intervening 
space with a roar and a shriek that re\erberates among the 
clouds and causes the whole enxiroimient to shake and 
tremble like the aspen ; they plunge into the parapet or 
exjilode immediately beyond. Over on the river front, two 
or three miles away as the birds fly, bombs rise in air from 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 423 

Farragut's mortar boats, which he close in shore just below, 
their masts topped out with branches of trees to mask them 
from the enemy's gunners. Their ponderous iron globes rise 
to a prodigious height, and suddenly vanish in puffs of smoke 
that look precisely like the neighboring flecks of summer 
clouds, except for their regular and rounded shapes. Their 
broken fragments hurtle and hum downward, and rain upon 
the earth as from the sky, so that none would be safe from 
them, even in the bottom of a well. But look, too, in 
"crows' nests" built in the tops of lofty trees here and 
there all around the lines, the signal corps are waving 
and dipping their square white flags. They are communica- 
ting in a code which none others understand, directing the 
fire of the big guns, and sending messages from Banks to 
Farragut, and back again from the fleet to the army. The 
work is the same, night and day ; but to-night the moon 
rises just as the sun sets, and is wondrously large and round 
and full, and just as it is fairly up Companies D, E, H, I, and 
K march out of the woods into the trenches for their night's 
work. 

The night, so far as nature goes, is very hot and tranquil, 
and almost as light as day. Fireflies are innumerable, and 
all sharded and nocturnal creatures lift up their shrill voices 
in the fields and woods in a grand and ringing concert that is 
almost deafening to the ears. At 12 o'clock the enemy send 
in their shells again, crashing among the grand old beech 
trees which grow to magnificent proportions, their roots 

Note. Our men at Carrollton observe at these times tliat steamers are 
contimially passing up and down laden with troops and munitions, and 
sick and wounded. Men arrive at Carrollton wounded in every conceiv- 
able way. A lieutenant of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New 
York bled to death from a wound in his throat that had apparently 
healed. One man, with the entire top of his skull removed by a piece of 
shell, lived three days. Another, with a canister shot in his brain, lived 
four da vs. 



424 ilii^ Fifteenth Xei^' Hampshire Wilunteers. 

commcncini;' to swell out some distance up the huge trunk, 
and running off into the ground like great braces. Of this, 
McCjregor says : 

" For some nights now the enemy seemed to gixe special 
attention to our position. We lay in the edge of the woods, 
h^ach night after a few shells had come over, we would get 
u]) and take shelter in the woods. I used to seek one of 
these beech trees and curl up in the mossy nook between a 
pair of its great roots. They shelled us with two guns, one, 
of which we could hear the distant boom some seconds before 
its shot arrived, threw a 7-inch conical shell about two feet 

Note. PiTTSFn':Ln, N. H., .April 13, 1X99. 

Dear Comrade: On the night of December 13. iS6i,\vliile in com- 
pany witii a l)rother and a cousin, and anotlier fellow, we planned an 
adventure to nin a\va\- and enlist. We walked seventeen miles and 
enlisted at Manchester in Company G, Eighth New Hampshire \'olun- 
teers. While there, two weeks, it was the coldest weather ever known. 
We stayed in tents, with only a blanket over us. As I was under age my 
father refused his consent and came after me, and I returned home. I 
again enlisted September 15, 1862, in Company (], Fifteentli New Hamp- 
shire Volunteers, under Lewis W. Osgood, tiien of I'ittstield. Two of 
my brothers also enlisted in same companv at tliat time, J. Xewton, who 
lives at Newark, N. J., and Enoch M., better known as '• Mack," who 
died at Barracks hospital, June 2, 1863. When sick witii tyjihoid fever 
his regiment was ordered to Port Hudson, and Mack was urged to remain 
by the .surgeon, but the boy said, " No, I will go to Port Hudson if it is 
the last thing I do."" Between Springfield Landing and Port Hudson lie 
fell out, and a heavy shower soaked his clothing before the ambulance 
picked him up. He was carried to Port Hudson and iiiaci'd in an oltl 
building until tlie tirst battle (May 27): he was then |)]ace(l out in tiie 
hot sun to make room for the wounded. ( )ur cook, (ieorge Snell, tountl 
iiim tluis and built a green arcli over his iiead ; a few da\s later lie was 
carried (unconscious) to New Orleans, to the hosijital. where lie died two 
days later. I was in the first battle at Port Hudson, and was under lire 
fifty days. .As my com|);uiy was greatly reduced 1 w.is on picket duty 
and worked in rifle pits most of the time. At one time tliere weie only 
nine of us on duty: 1 was one of them. 

Fk.vnk W. Yocnc. 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 425 

long. At a certain short range shot and sound would reach 
us together, but at long range the sound gets ahead as the 
shot slows up in the latter part ot its course. Stepping into 
the open field you could watch the approach of this shell in 
the night by the fuse burning like a bright star in its point. 
The other gun threw a lO-inch round shell, and was so 
situated, and so distant, that its report could not be heard. 
The first admonition we had of its discharge was the sound 
of its shell hissing slowly along downward from a great 
height in our front. I have watched this shell from the open 
field by its fuse, which was sometimes presented to the eye, 
and then eclipsed as the shell revolved on itself. The noise 
made by this shell in approaching us through the air was 
very deceptive. It did not sound to be moving faster than a 
man would walk, but in a moment it would come crashing 
in, and for an instant light up the dark woods with a blinding 
glare. The report of its explosion was terrific, and seemed to 
jar the solid earth. The gunners would gradually lengthen 
their fuse and so sweep the whole woods. I used to move 
from tree to tree as they lengthened their fuse, so as to 
keep ahead of the bursting point. The tree was proof 
against the fragments, but was no protection against the 
shell before it exploded. Many times the fragments of these 
exploded shells struck the tree behind which I was ensconsed, 
and the pieces rattling down its branches, went stripping 
through the leaves, and plunged into the ground around me." 

This night the shelling was very severe and quite destruc- 
tive. One of Company A's men was wounded and two of 
Company I's, one of whom was Jonathan Elkins. A New 
York man was killed, and at i o'clock Noah M. Weeks 
received his mortal stroke. From this same shot Captain 
Cogswell, Lieutenant Pickering, and Sergeant Gordon very 
narrowly escaped. Major Aldrich was field officer of the 



426 



The Fifteenth Xei^.' HavipsJiire W^lunteers. 



clay, and was on tliat ])ai"t of the picket line near the Schalter 
house, when this shell came in. It was now the no(jn of 
night, and the resplendent moon had reached the zenith. 
The shell described a mighty arch, and exploded right in the 
tops of the trees. A fragment of this shell struck Weeks 
as he lay upon the ground, and severed his legs from the body. 
Captain Cogswell rose in haste to attend to the unfortunate 
man, but his blood gushed out in torrents, and he died before 
reaching the hospital. The captain had renioxed his boots and 
was in his stocking feet. Upon making search for them they 
were buried from sight by this same shell, whose fragments 
had plunged deej) into the ground. The captain and (lordon 
used Gordon's knapsack for a pillow, but in their sleep their 
heads had rolled from it to the ground, and in the morning 
they were surprised to see that a fragment of this same shell 
had stripped the bark from the tree at their heads, and passing 
downward through the knapsack had completely wrecked it 
and all its contents, and buried itself deep in the earth 
beneath. It had also struck the captain's swoi'd, which 
reclined against the tree, and cut through the tough leather 
of the scabbard, laying bare the bright steel, which sword 
is still preserved, and with its injur\' is treasured by the 
captain and exhibited as a memento of that deadly occasion. 
This was one of the lo-inch globular shells that came from 
the gun whcjse report could not be heard. (See map enemy's 
battery 6.) 

June 3. As has been already shown, our colonel had reached 
a dangerous height for a civilian soldier, and he was now 
notified to consider himself vmder arrest — no charges made, 
nor cause assigned and given limits at Baton Rouge, and 
though he repeatedly souglit a liearing, (leneral Hanks was 
too bus}' to consider the case till after the term of the regi- 
ment expired, and it thus happened tliat our bra\e old 
colonel's brilliant inililarv career was, as it seemed to him 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 427 

and his men, unjustly closed forever. But civilians of his 
imperial cast of mind do not become soldiers with a moment's 
thought and training. He was proud of his men, and loved 
them as much as they loved and honored him, and was as 
deeply moved as such souls can be moved, by their late crush- 
ing and seemingly useless and unnecessary slaughter, and is 
said, under the great stress of the moment, to have given 
utterance to some words of grief or criticism, which were 
used as an excuse for supplanting him with an older and 
equally ambitious soldier. His fault was an undue and con- 
spicuous leniency toward his men, and a kindliness of nature 
that revolted at a rash and ill-concerted movement, wherein 
so much brave blood was shed for so little gain : a fault, 
certainly, that not merely leans to virtue's side, but seems to 
be a veritable virtue in itself. 

And now Major Aldrich is placed in command in the after- 
noon. At 4 o'clock the regiment was removed one hundred 
rods for safety, to a new position. (See map 18.) 

Some extracts from diaries, June 3 : 

The day w^as very hot. 
A man wounded in the afternoon. 
Company G worked on battery 15 last night. 
Company K came in from supporting a battery at day- 
light, and had stewed beans for breakfast. Camp moved a 

Note. Extract from letter of Col. John W. Kingman: " I can only 
say, in relation to the arrest, tliat I never had any trouble with (leneral 
Dow or General Sherman, as long as they were in command, l)ut soon 
after General Dwight assumed command, and before he ever sent me any 
order or communication of any kind, or ever spoke to me, or ever visited 
our regiment, he ordered my arrest ; that he never filed any charges 
against me, or gave any reason for the arrest, which the army regulations 
required him to do within Jive days. It was a petty, spiteful, and cruel 
exercise of temporary authority, which I had no means of resisting or 
clearing up, as our term of enlistment had nearly expired, and General 
Banks was too full of business to listen to complaints." 



428 TJic FiftecntJi Nciv HampsJiire Voluiitccrs. 

little way north and into woods across the road. Soon 
thirty-SLx of this company were called out to work on rifle-pits 
and breastworks. 

Company I was on fatigue last night (battery 15), and 
came in at daylight. Boys feel very badly about the colonel's 
arrest. 

Compan}' 1) laid out in the road till midnight, having been 
ordered on fatigue — two corporals and twenty-two men — 
but were not called for. Gunboats fired brisk all night. 

Major Aldrich saw General Banks for the first time in his 
life. 

Stewed beans to-day, and coffee, hard bread, pork, and 
salt beef bones. 

Alvah Gilman, Company F, died at Baton Rouge. 

Minutes for the fourth of June : 

A very hot day. 

Company I on fatigue in intrenchments at night. 

Company K intrenching through night. 

Company A intrenching through night. 

Less cannonading and picket firing. Regiment nearly all 
on fatigue night and day, which is thiiming out the ranks con- 
siderably. Only three hundred and seventy-five men for 
duty. 

Rebel deserters come in freely. 

Preparing to plant siege guns. 

Company K in the woods all day. 

Enemy only fire at night. 

Company D on fatigue all night. 

Captain Johnson says : " Still most of the day ; there has 
been plenty of cannon firing, but no damage done. In the 
evening went on fatigue with two hundred and thirty 
men, to entrench." 

Private PMfe, Com]:)any II, died at Carrollton. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 429 

Minutes from diaries : 

June 5, Friday. Very hot again to-day; working on 
breastworks. Our artillery fire all day. Companies I, K, 
and D intrenching all last night and all day to-day. Com- 
pany A all last night throwing up breastworks. Rebels 
shell the fatigue party, but no one was hurt. Sergeant 
Stevens, Company K, who had been sick a day or two, was 
sent out as sergeant of an intrenching party to relieve Ser- 
geant Gordon, Company A, till sunset ; came in for supper, 
and then was sent out with his own company. 

Bombarding by the gunboats and artillery at night. fLuemy 
reply with grape and canister and shells. 

Regiment nearly all out last night, and are out again 
to-day. Regiment has not had a good night's sleep for 
more than a week, and are getting pretty well tired out pre- 
paring for siege guns. Worked to-day under fire ; one man 
wounded by a musket ball. 

Ryron Elliott, Company B, died of wounds at Port Hud- 
son. Henry W. Berry, Company G, died at Carrollton. 

Captain Johnson says : 

" We threw up an earthwork for the protection of the 
battery ; had to work in the night on account of the enemy's 
sharpshooters, as they throw their shot thick and fast when 
they can see any of us. We worked until 6 o'clock ; threw 
up the work so high that it protected us from the enemy's 
fire somewhat. They threw one shell into the work ; it 
burst in the earthwork, but did no damage." 

This must relate to last night and to battery 16, which is 
right on the battle-field of May 27. This great work 
was done under Captain Johnson and Sergt. J. J. Hanson. 
On the afternoon of the fourth they, under Hanson, rolled 
bales of cotton before them on to the spot, and went to 



430 The Fifteenth Xcw Hampshire I'^oluntccrs. 

shovelling. They first eut poles in the woods on which to 
carry the cotton, but found the bales too heavy to be conveyed 
in that manner. During the night the enemy burned a barn to 
light up the country, and then fired on the working part}' with 
grape and canister. The sick at Carrollton heard the firing- 
last night. About twenty of those who were left behind 
sick at the Parapet came up to Port Hudson this day ; they 
report it very dull and sickly at Carrollton, and that boys 
there are dying off fast. 

Battery i 5 is being also built by the Fifteenth men at this 
same time ; the commencement was made in the night. A 
long subterranean passage leads from the rear of this battery 
to an underground magazine, over which an artificial hill is 
raised of no mean proportions when compared with nature's 
own works. A battery such as was built liere is a ver)' 
formidable affair, and planted at South Merrimack, or e\en in 
Hollis, could easily destroy the city of Nashua. The grape 
shot fired upon us while building this battery were put up in 
the following manner : A disc of cast iron whose diameter is 
the same as the calibre of the gun, say eight inches, and a 
half inch thick, is placed at the bottom. Through the centre 
of this is a small bolt hole. Around this centre are geometri- 
cally arranged slight depressions, in eacli of which rests one of 
the graj^e shots, say one and a half inches in diameter. The 
distances are such that the shots are all in contact, and just 
cover the disc. Now over this layer, a ring of half-inch wire 
is dropped, of the same size as the diameter of the plate. 
Now on the first layer of sliot, and falHng into its interstices, 
a second layer is ])laced, the outer circle of this second layer 
resting against the ring. Tlien another ring is laid on, 
and then another la)er of sliot, and so on, up, the wliole 
being capj^ed with an inxerted plate similar to the bottom 
one; a bolt, witli a nut, passing through the bolt holes in the 
plates longitudinal]}' through tlie centre of the mass, secures 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 431 

the whole. This bolt is a slight affair, and on the discharge 
of the gun the whole thing bursts, and rings and balls and 
plates go hurtling through the air. 

But after reaching a certain stage, so that some protection 
is afforded the men, the work is pushed along night and day. 
The whole work is done under the fire of the enemy's sharp- 
shooters, and frequent discharges of grape and canister. The 
enemy soon discovered our purpose, as the sound of the 
shovels can be heard, and opened fire on us. But the men 
gradually settle into the ground as the excavation proceeds. 
On seeing the flash of a gun they drop to the bottom of the 
work and let the charge pass over. One can work on safely 
in this way. Even if his back is turned, he catches the flash 
in the dark night in season to drop. In one second after 
the flash, at this short distance, you hear the report, and at 
the same time the shot shrieks by. The country is full of 
lightning bugs, which sometimes flash just behind one's ears 
in perfect imitation of the flash of a gun. Men would fre- 
quently be deceived by them, and so drop at a mere insect. 
It was previous to this, one night, that the impulsive Sergeant 
Nye, being out with a squad, uttered a cry of warning and 
dropped flat on the ground when one of the boys had simply 
struck a match to light his pipe. This created a good deal 
of merriment, in which the gallant sergeant joined as heartily 
as the rest, l)ut Nye never heard the last of it, as there is 
always merriment amongst the boys. But occasionally one 
is struck down, and in such cases is tenderly and reverently 
cared for, and if killed is buried with a sorrow that only 
soldiers know. 

Minutes for June 6 : 

Extremely hot and bright. 

Company A on fatigue. Men all work on breastworks for 
siege guns ; but little picket firing on either side. Gunboats 
throw a shell occasionally, and once in a while our guns send 
a few shot and shell. 



432 



The Fifteenth Neiv Hampshire J^ohtnteers. 



Company K ordered out at i r. .m. on fatigue. 

Companies K and G worked on parapet last night and 
to-day. 

Company K man wounded in leg. 

Lieutenant Perkins out all night. One man wounded by 
musket shot. 

Captain Johnson says : " Morning very fine. There has 
been artillery firing on our side to-day, but very little reply. 
We have the place for the battery (No. i6) nearly completed. 
In hopes to have the guns in position to-morrow." 

Company D was on fatigue all last night and all the fore- 
noon to-day. 

June 7, Sunday. Very hot. 

Lieutenant Perkins says : " One man killed by our own 
shells ; digging rifle pits at night. Our sharpshooters were 
advanced to within two hundred yards of the parapet. Rebels 
throw some grape and shells in the night, but were soon 
silenced by our guns." 

Companies A, C, and H worked all night and went out 
again this noon. Rebels fired on our sharpshooters last night, 
and all that were left in camp were called out about i o'clock 
and laid on arms down by the side of the road, so as to be 
ready if needed. 'Phis evening the right of the regiment is 
ordered out to dig rifle pits. One of the One Hundred and 
Twenty-eighth New York was killed by a piece of shell. 
This evening were shelled again. Whole force of regiment 
out last night to meet expected assault. 

Corporal P2d wards says : " Part of Comi)any K was out 
last night to work, and about i i i'. m. the rest of us were 
routed out to work on fortification. We worked till da)light, 
and the comjiany worked all day. One of our shells burst 
soon after leaving the gun and killed a man of the One 
Hundred and Sbcty-second New York. Went to a spring 
two nn'lcs away and got six canteens of water. General 
Banks was here to-day." 



Annjf Life at Port Hudson. 



433 




CORP. R. M. McCLUHR. (See pages 356 and 365.) 



434 ^-^'^^ Fifteenth Xezv Havipsliire Volutiteers. 

Sergeant Stevens, Company K, says : " Came in at sun- 
rise for breakfast ; the other relief went out, and we were 
ordered out again at night to dig rifle pits. I worked till i 
o'clock; came back to camp at 2. Rebels threw grape and 
canister at us, and fired off a lot of cartridges to get us out 
and get up an excitement ; our side shelled them and soon 
silenced them. Boys laid on their arms till daylight." 

Rifle pits were commenced both on the right and left of 
battery 16. Siege guns come up from Springfield Landmg. 

Major Aldrich's diary, June 7, says : " Work, work, work 
in the trenches night and day, no rest nor sleep ; men nearly 
exhausted." 

The big guns were put into battery 15 to-day — two rifled 
20-pounder Parrotts, Captain Hamrick, and two 24-poundcr 
Parrotts, Captain Harper. 

Company D, under Captain Johnson and Sergeant Han- 
son, are still working on battery 16. Its parai)et was 
constructed by piling a great quantity of cotton bales and then 
digging a ditch in front sufficient to furnish earth to bur\- the 
cotton to a great depth. 

Daniel Marston, Company K, died at Carrollton. 

June 8, Monday. \"ery hot. 

Memorandum from diaries and other sources : 

Sergeant Trickey's diary says : " Came in from fatigue," 
and that four big guns were placed in batter)- i 5. 

Captain Johnson advanced the picket line to within one 
hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's parapet, and also 
he advanced the sharpshooters in front of our brigade the 
same distance. 

Comjmny D, under .Sergeant Hanson, is still working 
on battery 16. 

Sergeant Stevens, Compan\- K, says: "All out on 
fatigue. 1^'arragut bombarding after midnight." 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 435 

Corporal Edwards, Company K, says : " Company out all 
night, and about 2 o'clock this morning the enemy began to 
fire pretty brisk, and the rest of the regiment fell in and laid 
on their arms till daylight." 

All men working night and day. One man wounded of 
the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York. 

Lieutenant Perkins' diary says : '* Sho\'elled in pits. The 
rifle balls are whistling over our heads from the enemy's 
sharpshooters. Frank Holmes, Gregg and Gordon, Com- 
pany H, convalescents, came up from Camp Parapet." 

Companies A, C, and H worked in the forenoon. Stephen 
Weeks accidentally hurt in the jaw. 

The firing of small arms in the night, when the line was 
formed, became quite brisk and sounded precisely like hun- 
dreds of men chopping in the woods. Dug one hundred and 
twenty-five yards of rifle pits in front of the Schalter house. 

John Taylor, Company Y , died at Baton Rouge ; John 
Cate, Company G, died at Port Hudson. 

Lieutenant-colonel Blair arrived from down river and will 
assume command to-morrow. 

Sergt. T. E. P'urnald, Company C, was sick with fever in 
the hospital at Carrollton on May 12, but he and A. A. 
Austin had left there on June 3. The sergeant was placed 
in charge of forty-three convalescents and ordered aboard the 
" Sally Robinson," which was to stop at Carrollton on her 
way up from New Orleans and take them aboard. But 
being late she steamed right by, leaving them standing on 
the wharf. It is said that this was the last trip of the 
" Sally," as on her way up some enemies in flat boats, mak- 
ing signals of distress, and she offering assistance, was 
decoyed into the hands of rebels, who burned her to the 
water's edge. On the seventh he was ordered with his charge 
aboard the " Twin Sisters," and convoyed by gunboats to 
Springfield Landing. Here rations were drawn, when the 



436 



The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire l^oluntccrs. 



little band broke ranks, shook hands, and parted, each squad 
going at pleasure to find its own company. The trip through 
the summer woods to the front was most beautiful, and many 
turtle doves were singing and cooing in the branches. 





SERGT. T. E. 



TIMOTHY E. FIRXALD. 



June 9, Tuesday. \'ery hot, dr\-, and dusty ; good breeze 
that shakes the leaves. 

A. C. Haines, Company D : " Worked digging rifie pits all 
night." 

Lieutenant Perkins : " At work in rifle pits and breast- 
works. The enemy threw some shells and grape among us, 
when our batteries opened and kept up a brisk fire all night." 

Corporal Edwards : " Company out all night on fatigue — 
rifle pits ; returned to camp this morning at daybreak, and 
laid round all day getting ready for inspection. First 
whiskey ration." 

Sergeant Stevens : " Only coffee and hard bread for 
breakfast after shoveling and picking all niglit ; i)ounded 
hard bread and made some fritters. Cut eight heads of hair. 
Considerable bombarding, but no one injured near our 
camp." 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 437 

Major Aldrich : " Preparations continue, and the lines are 
drawn tighter every day. But little cannonading till after- 
noon, but in the evening and through the night it was kept up 
on both sides with but little cessation." 

Colonel Blair in command ; arm in sling. 

Sergeant Trickey : " Right of our regiment went out to 
support batteries ; we finished some rifle pits. Enemy 
opened on us with grape and canister ; none hurt. In the 
afternoon one of our guns set fire to a large building inside 
the rebel works ; it is burning this evening ; it made a great 
smoke." 

Company D on fatigue at same place. Effective force 
to-day reported 400. 

After lying in hospital till the seventh, Blair became 
uneasy, an'd thinking that, in the scarcity of officers on duty 
there, he might be useful at the front in some way, by his 
advice or moral support, sought permission to return, not 
expecting to go on active duty, for he was wholly unfit, his 
wound having now become very painful and swollen. He 
took passage on the seventh for the seat of hostilities. Upon 
reaching Donaldsonville, he first learned of the arrest of 
Colonel Kingman. He reached the regiment on the evening 
of the eighth, and resumed duty on the ninth, so that the 
major was in command here for a period of only five days. 
And thus it fell that the man to whom, more than all others, 
was due the splendid discipline of the regiment, became its 
leader through the greater part of its active career. But 
during this time it should be stated that the lieutenant- 
colonel made repeated, though unsuccessful, efforts for the 
colonel's release and return to his command. 

Blair was greatly weakened and emaciated. He wore his 
right arm in a sling. He carried his sword in his left hand 
and was the only severely wounded officer on duty, so far as 
can be ascertained. 



43^^ TJic Fifteenth Xeu< Hamps/iijr ]^olu7iteers. 

It is an historical fact that his boys highly esteemed their 
old colonel, and they deeply mourned his loss. Physically, 
he was a marvellous example of God's handiwork, and 
towered above ordinary mortals like a giant. He was a 
striking character, and unique, both mentalh' and physically. 
It were futile to say that he, like all others, was not endowed 
with the usual share of what some have called human failings. 
No greater wrong could be done an historic character than 
to represent it as a deity, and incapable of error or mistake. 
All thinking men would revolt at such manifest adulation, 
nor give due credit to the \'irtues, that by the fiat of omnipo- 
tence always dwell in their neighborhood and are never found 
elsewhere. Whatever of mentality is great and god-like in 
man, is built up around them and upon them, and is sustained 
by them ; and they are thereby like the osseous framework of 
the human anatomy. 71ie beauty of the oak is its rugged 
strength, and gnarled and knotted arms that sustain a wealth 
of leaf and verdure that might be likened to the human soul. 
Without them all would fall to the ground in mere effeminacy. 
And it so appears that those phases, miscalled faults, are in 
reality absolute virtues and necessities, and if they are faults 
or defects, (iod made both them and the man, and omniscience 
can do no wrong. Hut no just censure could i)ertain to 
Colonel Kingman, either as a man or as a soldier, that could 
not be de\ised bv an enemy against any man in his position 
at a moment's notice. Hut all tliat could be claimed in 
justification of those who souglit his place and downfall as a 
soldier shall be frcel)' stated, lest in their absence surmises 
might do hini gross injustice, more than absolute malice and 
untruth. It is thought that, under great stress, in those 
)ears, he would botli speak and act with little forethought or 
premeditaticMi, and lor the niomeiU was inclined to resent 
supposed injuries, lather tiian silentl)' endure them as a 
natural and necessar\- i)art of human existence, and which. 



Aj-viv IJfc at Port Hudson. 



439 




MAJOR-GKNKRAf, BANKS. 



440 The FiftcciitJi New Hampshire J \)lu}itceTS. 

with a little patient waiting, would pass harmlessly away. 
But when the impulse forsook him, and he realized his haste, 
he could not sleep till all amends were made that lay in 
human power. If he were to be criticised as a soldier, two 
particulars only could be considered — his excessive care for 
his men, and anxiety for their health and comfort, inclined him 
to a laxity in drill and discipline ; and again, not being a 
trained soldier, he could not acquire at once the great trade 
of war which demands, not only a natural birthright, but life- 
long experience as well. Like the great mass of all our 
army, he was there as a citizen and a patriot, undertaking 
the part of a soldier for a time, and not because he was a son 
of Mars ; and as such he was used to command and not to 
serve. 

His rugged nature could not readily yield to that abso- 
lute and unquestioning obedience of superiors wherein all 
discipline lies ; and when he saw his boys ruthlessly cut down 
in a futile and, as it seemed to him, rash and ill-considered 
assault, he was wrought up beyond control, and is alleged to 
have uttered some words of censure of those whom a soldier's 
duty required him to loyally support and serve. With more 
experience as a soldier, lie would have entertained his 
thoughts, but given them no words. They must be useless 
and idle now ; the deed complained of is done, and no expres- 
sion of grief or complaint could recall the disastrous day, 
correct its mistakes, could rciKiir its injuries, or resurrect the 
dead for whom he mourned. But such arrests are of every- 
day occurrence in army life, and arc of so little moment as to 
pass unnoticed b}- the general world, although they seem so 
particular and imj^orlant to those immcdiatel}- concerned. 
Nowhere on earth is honor and conmiand so hotl}' pursued 
as here, nor jealousy so lit'e, and the alleged remarks may 
have been a mere pretext rather than a just cause for Colonel 
Kingman's release from command. And it was undisputably 
a matter of words merely — simply of uttering certain just 



Army Life at Port Hitdsoii. 441 

strictures — and had no reference whatever to his character as 
a man, or his conduct as a soldier, in the face of the enemy, 
both of which were above all blemish or reproach. If he 
had fallen when so many fell on the great day of carnage, his 
memory would have been cherished as none other, and the 
busy world would have paused to proclaim that no braver 
man, none more correct of heart, or of nobler j^urposes, ever 
gave his life for a cause. 

Major Aldrich was the beau ideal of a gentleman and 
soldier. He was quiet and apparently faultless. During the 
long enforced absence by sickness of his two superiors at the 
Parapet, he commanded with great firmness and ability. No 
officer sat more gracefully in the saddle than he, nor more 
fully enjoyed the confidence of his men, or was more highly 
respected or more cheerfully obeyed. 

Blair was fiery, ambitious, and possessed of a fortitude 
that nothing could thwart or dethrone but death itself. He 
was the true soldier, and would obey an order oblivious to 
all consequences, whether they led to future recognition and 
honor or to instant death and a soldier's grave. 

June 10, Wednesday. Very hot ; breezy. 

Minutes from diaries, etc. : 

A sergeant and seven privates from Company D detailed 
on special duty as skirmishers. 

Corporal Trickey says : " Were relieved at 7 o'clock and 
returned to camp. Baked beans for breakfast, which, after a 
night's work, were good. After breakfast, inspected. Our 
new big guns open to-day." 

Companies A, C, and H digging in pits. 

Sergeant Stevens says : " Called out at 7 a. m. to support 
batteries, and for fatigue ; inspected and ordered back to 
camp. Twenty-five men to go on picket at 3 o'clock, and 
fifteen sharpshooters at sundown. Cannonading and skirmish- 
ing all night and all day." 



442 TJic Fifteenth Neiv HampsJiire Volunteers. 

Company G " inspection." 

Corporal Edwards says of Company K : " We marched 
out to support batteries in the morning, and were inspected 
by Captain Wheeler and returned to camp, and twenty-five 
men were sent out on picket at 3 o'clock, and fifteen sharp- 
shooters at sunset ; the rest of us stayed in camp all day. 
Still throwing up breastworks." 

Lieutenant Perkins says : " Our guns are playing pretty 
constantly. We are about ready for the general bombard- 
ment. One deserter came in this morning. Regiment called 
out in night on line of battle ; heavy shower. Our sharp- 
shooters attempted to advance in the night." 

Note. Soldirr's letter : 

" In the Field, near Port Hl'dson, 

Wednesday, June 10, 1S63. 
My Dear Mary : 

"We are still here l)efore the rebel stron^lioUl, with our lines much 
advanced since I wrote you last. We have laid siege to the place, and are 
pressing it to the utmost. Work is being pushed night and day, and new 
batteries aie put in position everv day, and there is a pretty steady fire on 
the place and has been since the l)attle two weeks ago to-day. There is 
hardly a minute but we hear the roar of artillery, or the report of musketry, 
the hissing shell, the rush of solid shot, or the whiz of the bullet. There 
have been man\- narrow and wonderful escapes, and yet the boys do not 
mind them so much now. Our regiment has thrown up advanced intrench- 
ments in the face of the enemy, sometimes advancing three hundred yards 
in a night. I have been out quite often. We work in details night and 
day, and at times under heavy fire. We sutler more from the rebel sharp- 
shooters tiian we do from the artillery. I don't know of any in our 
regiment who have been hit while working nights, but it has been a 
miracle that there were no casualties in that line. Oiu' regiment has dug 
five hundred yards of rilie ])its to protect our infantry. The rebs shell us 
frequently, and then everv oni' has to look out for himself, but our 
batteries soon put a slop to their fun for the time being. 

"We are now within a mile of tlu' rt'bel woiks. and intrenched with 
our pickets well out. and we are within easy shelling distance. 1 was on 
dutv last night on tiie jjicket line, and h.ive been off duty to-day. although 
I shall have to go st)mewhere to-nigiit with a iletail. 1 guess an advance 



//////' Life at Port ffndsc 



443 




444 T^f^^ FifteaitJi Nczv HampsJiire Volunteers . 

of our lines is intended, for I have seen several loads of cotton bales 
going to the front, and although the future movements are kept a secret by 
the commanding officers, one with half an eye cannot fail to see that we 
are on the eve of important events. Genera^ Banks has some one hun- 
dred and fifty pieces of artillery along our line of investment, which is 
nearly six miles (so they say). Commodore Porter is in position down 
the river, while Admiral Farragut's fleet is above, all within easy shelling 
distance. It is thought a general bombardment will take place within 
a day or two, and it is calculated to drop three hundred shells per minute 
inside the works. If that doesn't bring them the place will be carried by 
assault, and I think it will succeed. 

" The boys are all pretty well, and those from Rochester who were 
wounded are C()mfortal)le. Corporal Miller ( Rewitzer) had one of his 
legs amputated. I saw my brother John, from the Eighth; he is well 
and hearty. You would hardly know him, he is so browned by southern 
tan. He has two horses taken from the rebels. The Eighth is mounted. 
I received three stamps in one of the letters from you the other day : many 
thanks. 

" If you hear any one there .say anything against Colonel Kingman, 
you tell them it won't be safe for them to say it when the boys get home. 
He is the idol of the Fifteenth regiment, and the boys love him as they 
would a kind father. He did nobly in the fight ; went in in his shirt 
sleeves and a knit woolen smoking cap on. He wasn't full of whiskey, 
and knew what he was about. Since leaving the Parapet he has time and 
again told the commanders of companies to get everything that was 
needed from the quartermaster's department. * Give your boys all the hot 
coffee they want, there is plenty of it ; sugar, rice, beef, pork, hard 
bread, beans, everything. See they have all they want, and have a kettle 
of coffee on the fire all the time when it is safe to have a fire ; it will do 
the men good. If you haven't cooks enough, detail another one; this is 
no time to save company funds.' 

" I find niv slieet is getting full, and I nuist close. I liad to borrow 
this jjapur. I iiave had hard work to keep this journal, but I have 
managed to keep it. I iiave used cartridge paper sometimes to scribble 
on, under rebel fire at tliat. 1 don't know as you can find this out, as I 
have to write on the margin to till nou .some good news. \ rebel came 
in last night and gave himself up; thirty came in night before last with a 
lieutenant, and about every night one or more comes in. Well. I have 
hardly space to write. 

Yours with nuich love, 

(;i;<)K(iK (W. Tkickkv)."" 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 445 

Note. A letter from Lieutenant Perkins, Company H : 

"Camp before Port Hudson, June 10, 1863. 
Dear Wife : 

" I wrote you about ten days since, but had some doubts about \-our 
ever getting the letter, or this either, as the report liere is that letters are 
not allowed to go North at present. There has nothing of importance 
transpired since I wrote. We have got the rebels shut up as tight as a 
rat in a trap, and are bound to bag them before we leave them. I don"t 
see any possible chance for them to escape. We are building batteries 
and digging rifle pits all around them, and in a day or two I expect tliere 
will be one of the most terrific bombardments that has ever been known. 
Our rifle pits are within rifle shot of their parapet ; we have been at work 
on them night and day. Their sharpshooters are firing at us all the time, 
and the balls are whizzing over our heads, but they don't hit many. Tliey 
also give us a shower of shells and grape, but we give them back ten fold. 
There is scarcely five minutes, day or night, but that we hear the roar of 
artillery, or the bursting of shells. A good many deserters come in from 
the fort, and according to their reports the rebels have about six thousand 
men, with a pretty good supply of provisions, and plenty of ammunition 
for small arms, but are short of large. They say also that a great many 
would leave if they could get away, and that many of the officers are in 
favor of surrendering. The day that we buried our dead a good many of 
them came and talked with us and appeared very friendly ; shook hands 
with us when they left, telling us that if they took any of us prisoners they 
should use us well, and requested us to do the same by them. The night 
after the battle some of the wounded were left on the field, and tlic rebel 
surgeons went out and dressed their wounds, and told our pickets to bring 
water and they would not be fired on. One of our rifle pits runs across 
the battle-field. I expect our regiment will go into one of them to- 
morrow. 

"There are so many items which I might write that I don't know 
where to begin or leave off, so I will wait till I see you, when I shall have 
some big stories to tell. I am sorry to hear of father's condition, but am 
not at all surprised ; I have been expecting such a result. I hope you 
won't break down under your load ; if it is possible to obtain any help, I 
hope you will do so. My health is good. I have slept on the ground 
without any covering now for three weeks, and have never taken a grain 
of cold. The ground here is some elevated and dry, the ravine serving 
as a drain. The weather is clear and fine, about as hot as our hottest 
July weather. All the rain since we have been here has been but two 



446 The Fifteenth Neiv HampsJiire Volunteers. 

June I I , Thursday. Very heavy shower, commencing at 
2 o'clock in the morning ; showery in the afternoon ; cleared 
in the evening. 

Extracts from diaries : 

Major Aldrich : " Much picket firing and sharpshooting 
all night, also cannonading. Men were all called out, and 
got but little rest. Toward night, indications of erecting 
more batteries with cotton bales." 

Lieutenant Perkins, Company H : " Went out with Com- 
pany H at night to support batteries. Built a breastwork of 
cotton within three hundred yards of the enemy's works. 
Not a gun was fired on us during the night." 

Sergeant Stevens, Company K : " Hard bread fritters for 
breakfast. Kelley shot through the neck and spine. Twelve 
hundred men ordered out to finish breastworks and batteries. 
Thirty or forty loads of cotton were hauled up and used for 
breastworks. Was sergeant of picket with Compan)- I at 3 
o'clock. Company K out all night supporting battery." 

Sergeant Trickey, Company I : " Part of company ordered 
on picket and j^art on fatigue. Orme, sergeant of picket. 
Pretty heavy firing all day." 

sliowers ; I don't see \vliy it is not as heaitliy liere as anywliere in tlie 
Nortii. This is a cotton raising region. Our folks iiave fount! large 
quantities of it secreted, and are sending it to the city; we also use it for 
breastworks. It looks too had to see so much t)f it wasted, when it is 
so valuable. If we succeed in taking this place, and 1 get home safe, 
you needn't be concerned about my wanting to go again, although I am 
willing to make more sacrifice for the sake of conquering the rebels; yet 
I liave seen enough of the horrid realities of war to satisfy me tor a lit'e- 
time. Sanborn and Webster were doing well when we heard from them 
last, but Sanborn's wound is dangerous. Our time is out July 16. am! we 
expect to get home hy that time. The lughth and .Sixteenth are here. 
Charles Curiier was here a day or two since; he is well. 
" June I 1 . All well ; nothing new. 

W.VSIIINGTOX." 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



447 



Unknown : " Heavy shower this morning at 3 o'clock. 
Heavy cannonading ; had two men wounded this morning- 
one in Company K killed, shot through head. Boys out all 
last night digging in pits." 

Sergeant Spencer, Company C : " Last night smart skir- 
mishing ; this morning a heavy shower. . Heaven's mighty 
artillery intermingled with man's, and the whole earth was 
shaken. No shelter ; slept on the wet ground. A soldier's 





l^NCER — Co. c. 



life is a hard life. God grant that we may live to see the end 
of it, and peace once more prevail over our distracted coun- 
try, and we be permitted to return to our friends and homes." 

Extract from report of Major-General Banks, page 14, 
official records, series i, vol. 26, part i : 

" On June 10 a heavy artillery fire was kept up, and at 3 
o'clock on the morning of the eleventh we endeavored to get 
within attacking distance of the works in order to avoid the 
terrible losses incurred in moving over the ground in front of 



448 The Fifteenth Xcw Hampshire W^lunteers. 

the works ; but the enemy discovered the movement before 
daybreak. A portion of the troops worked their way throui^h 
the abattis to the lines, but were repulsed with the loss of 
several prisoners." 

It appears now that batteries ha\-e been planted around 
the entire line of seven or eight miles in extent, and prepara- 
tions, after prodigious labor, are fully completed for the long- 
expected general bombardment. It seems by the extract 
from the general's report that an assault was intended, but 
first having, under cover of darkness, secretly gained a point 
in close proximity from which to make the dash. Accord- 
ingly, men were advanced into a ditch which the terrific 
shower of the early morning completely flooded. Priv. K. A. 
Badger, Company A, was one of these men, and his memory 
of this evei-rt is very interesting. In an interview he says : 
" Captain Osgood was in command. There were about 
twenty men of Company A, besides Osgood's men. We 
were advanced ahead of the picket line, and, at a signal 
rocket, were to fire on the enemy, just to make a noise and 
alarm them, when all the new batteries, which had not yet 
been fired, were to open. There came up a shower which 
filled the ditch, and we laid our guns across and roosted on 
them till the water drained away." There was a recall 
before light, at which Captain Osgood took his men out. 
"The next day, at i or 2 o'clock in the afternoon, I crawled 
along the muddy bottom of the ditch, till I came to a coduroy 
bridge across it, and which was too low to crawl under. I 
rose and ran around it and then crawled to the end ; then I 
ran across the field a short distance to the rifle pits. In the 
midst of m\' run I fell and ])ickcd up and brought in a 
bayonet, which pro\ed to belong to a boy who liad come up 
from the front to look for one he had lost. Caj:)tain Cogs- 
well and Lieutenant Pickering were \•er^■ anxious about their 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 449 




E. A. BADGER. 



450 The FiftcciitJi Arw Hanips/iiir ]'oluntccrs. 

men, and asked mc if 1 amid i;et the rest out. I told them 
that I could, and went Ijack to pikn them out ; but just as I 
got to the nearest point of the rifle |)it I saw a man make the 
run round the brid[;e. I called to them to come one at a 
time, and I would halloo when I saw a Hash, at which they 
should drop, and so all got out safe." 

NOTli. A soldiei'.s letter: 

"Camp in the Rear of Port Hud.son, June 12, 1863. 

Dear Parents : 

"I am well and feel in tip-top condition for another fight. I received 
two letters from you to-day. (Several lines here are illegible, but which 
seem to mention letters and papers received, and their dates.) We have 
had to work pretty hard since the fight of May 27. We have been digging 
in rifle pits and building breastworks so as to mount siege gims. We 
were out forty-eight hours, came in this morning at daylight ; we didn't 
get any sleep during that time. We work right under the rebels' noses. 
Last night we built a breastwork of cotton bales and dirt within less than 
four hundi'ed yards of the rebel works, and they did not fire a gun on us, 
but our artillery kept up a fire on them, so did tlie mortar l)oats. 1 can't 
think what the reason is that they don't fire on us ; it must be because they 
have not got ammunition. I received three or four letters from you two or 
three days ago with some money and paper in tliem. I answer in a hurry 
now, for we are to go out in about an hour, and if I don't finish this and 
put it in to-night it won't go. John Hanson (sergeant) is well ; so is 
Free Dockham, Nat Robinson and John Palmer. The rest of the New- 
market boys are all well. The artillery keeps firing all the time. I do 
not know when we shall fight again ; we intend to be inside of Port Hud- 
son in two or three days. Our time is out the si.xteenth of July ; our 
time commenced the day tlie last company was mustered into service. 
We probably shall start (for lionie) just as soon as Port Hudson is taken, 
and we shall take it witliin a week, if it is taken this summer. 1 liad a 
letter from Aunt Mary the other day, but can't answer it now. 1 am 
twenty years old to-day. (iive my regards to all the folks at home. Cood 
bye. 

Your son, 

A. C. Haines." 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 



45' 



Corporal George, Company B, was also a participant in 
this affair. It would appear that he crawled to the left to 
make his exit. He says : "At the siege of Port Hudson I 
was detailed one night to make one of one hundred men to 
advance near the enemy's works, and to commence hring upon 
them at a certain signal, in order to draw them out ; then 
the artillery would shell them. Before we started we were 
drawn up in line, and the officer in command said that if 





CORP. F. H. GEORGE— Co. 



F. H. GEORGE. 



there was any among us who was afraid to die he could step 
out ; that he did not want one to go who was afraid to die. 
We were deployed three paces apart, and marched near the 
works and stationed in a plantation ditch, with (jrders to 
commence firing when we saw a rocket go up. We watched 
and waited but saw no rocket. Some time before morning 
we had orders to commence firing. After ten or fifteen 
rounds we were ordered to cease firing. Soon after we could 
hear the rebels near us, and hand grenades were thrown 
among us, but no damage done to my knowledge. At this 



452 



TJic FiftcciitJi New Hampshire Volunteers. 



time one of the hardest showers I ever knew came up, and 
soon the ditch we were in was nearly full of water, but we 
had to stay in it, as we did not dare to get out. About 9 
o'clock the next morning we found there were only seven of 
us left, the others having gone in, we not hearing the orders. 
After consulting together we decided to crawl along the 
ditch until we came to the end, and out on level ground, 
which was in plain sight of the rebs. Between us and our 
lines a good many trees had been cut down so the artillery 
could get range on the enemy, and we would run till we came 
to one, throw over our guns, jump over and crawl along till 
we were in sight, and then run again. In this way we reached 
our regiment without the loss of one among the seven." 

Lorenzo Frost, with another band boy, brought off Kelley's 
body. It lay on the field near the enemy. They made a 
dash for it, and received as many as twenty shots from the 
enemy's parapet. Frost says, " I laid Kelley in his grave 
myself." 

Orders at Port Hudson. 
Hkadquakters Fifteenth N. H. Vols., 

In Tin: FIELD NEAR PORT HUDSON. 

General Orders No. i. (No date.) 

Commanders of companies will see that every man !)elon<4^ins;- to their 
respective companies, not under the .surgeon's care, or detailed by proper 
authority, is present with his company in camp and not allowed to leave. 
The roll must be called morning, noon and night, and any man not 
present must be reported to the commander of the regiment immediately. 

All cooking utensils must be brought into camp forthwith. 

No one will I)e allowed to stay out of camp over night. 

By order of 

Major .'\LnRKH. 

Edward E. Pinkiiam, 

.Idjiiiant. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 453 



Headquarters Fifteenth N. H. \'ols., 

Near Port Hudson, June 11, 1863. 
Circular. 

Commanders of companies will at once appoint tVom amony; their 
corporals, acting sergeants, to till all vacancies of the latter rank, and 
forward the entire list to these headquarters before 3 o'clock p. m. this day. 
At least four sergeants must be on duty at the same time, and vacancies 
will be filled, till further orders, by the company commanders, as soon as 
they occur, from any cause. 

At least six corporals must be on duty in each comi)any always, and 
their appointment will be made by company commanders, as above, from 
the best soldiers. 

If in any case there are not corporals enough on dut\- to sui)])ly the 
vacancies in the rank of sergeants, the selection will be made from 
among the privates of the company. 

By order of 

H. W. Blair, 
Lieut enant-colonel covniuDiding Fifteenth N. H. I 'ols. 

E. E. PiNKHAM, 

A dj lit ant. 

W. I. Cobiirn, Company H, was promoted under this order. 

Note. Captain Gordon was in command of the new relief, and set 
out to relieve the sharpshooters in the trenches and rifle pits. They 
halted for a moment in a clump of live oaks, when a rebel sharpshooter in 
one of their trees fired, his shot passing through Dustin's pants leg and 
through the calf of the other leg. Some one said, "Captain, Dustin is 
wounded." The captain went to him and asked him if he was hurt. 
Dustin said, "No: I guess not much." He was immediately carried off 
to the surgeons. He died of gangrene. (See page 19.) This bullet 
continued on and struck the cartridge box belt of some one else, cutting 
it through and through his clothing, and plowing a furrow in his body. 

Note. 

"Monroe, Mich., February 10, 1898. 

My Dear Comrade and Friend : 

"Your very welcome letter of the twenty-eighth ultimo came to hand in 
due season, and would have been answered ere this, but old rheumatics 
in my right arm prevented me from doing so. To say that I was rejoiced 
to hear from you is putting it very mildly. To think that one whom I 



454 The Fifteenth Nciv HampsJiire W^lunteers. 

knew so slightly, only about three montlis, sliould remember me after 
thirty-five years, overwhelmed me. My campaigning, from March, "63, to 
the close of the siege of Port Hudson, can never be erased from my 
memory, especially the twenty-seventh of May and June 14. I well 
remember the incidents mentioned in your letter, and of the gallant charge 
of both these days. I have had three or four calls from members of your 
regiment, and very pleasant ones, when we have spent an hour or two in 
talking over old times. Every twenty -seventh and fourteenth I call to mind 
my old brigade on m\- expedition up New Orleans & Jackson Railroad. 
Your regiment was left at the Parapet while the One Hundred and Twenty- 
eighth was sent to me. During this campaign I contracted a disease 
from which I lia\e never recovered, but am still suffering from catarrhal 
bronchitis, deafness, dimness of sight, and rheumatism, and I am drawing 
a pension of $25 per month. I am now seventy-one years of age; 
and this is all that I have to live on. 1 could not tell you all tliat I have 
passed through. I had the misfortune to lose tlie savings of a lifetime 
bv trusting too much to others. Some three years ago 1 got so poorly 
with riieuniatism that I was unaljle to walk, and Ix-ing in Ohio at that 
time, l)v the advice of a friend I went to the Home at Dayton, where I 
lav in the hospital for over six months. Vox the past si.v years I have 
been confined to mv bed from two to seven weeks at a time with muscular 
rheumatism. I held a position in the auditor general's department for 
thirteen vears. when ow a change of administration I was sent to the rear. 
I have an application for increase of pension now ])ending. but have heard 
nothing from it since June, i8g6. Should I live to see the twenty-third 
of this month I shall celebrate the fifty-first aiuiiversary of my first 
battle ( iUiena \'ista). .Now. my dear old friend, I would like to ask this 
f;xvor(f()r I sup])(we tliat you are on good terms with Commissioner 
Evans), that is, to call up mv case and let me know iiow it stands. 
( .\uml)er of certificate. 257,503.) I would like to continue this letter, 
but mv arm aclies too bad. but next time will give you more particulars of 
my cami)aign in the Department of the (lulf. Relieve me truly. 

N'our comrade and friend, 

Tiios. S. Cl.AKK. 
Late Colonel Sixth Miehit^an Infantry and fleavy Artillery. 

To Colonel Hknkv \V. Hi.aik. 

Late Colonel /-'ifteenth Xeio //anipshire." 



Ai-rny Life at Port Hudson. 



455 



" Bensonville, Akk., April 6, 1899. 
Hon. Hkxrv W. Hlaik. Washington, D. C. 

''Dear Mr. Blair: Vou asked me before leaving Washington to give 
you a written statement as to \vliat I knew with reference to tlie captvire of 
Gen. Neal Dow, near Port Hudson, in June, 1863. All the knowledge I 
have in regard to it is simply this: During the siege of Port Hudson, I, 
having been wounded prior to that time, was stopping at Mr. Trotter's, 
Trotter Station, eighteen miles east of Port Hudson, and, I think, about 
four miles from Clinton, La. Sometime toward the latter part of June, 
four young men came to Mrs. Trotter's, 
having General Dow in charge as a 
prisoner. They stopped at the gate. 
General Dow asked Mrs. Trotter if she 
could give him some milk, which she 
did, he offering to pay for it, which 
she declined. The four young men 
seemed to be mere boys, the oldest 
not being more than twenty \ears of 
age. They were poorly mounted, and 
very poorly dressed. One of them had 
Gen. Neal Dow's sword, a very tine 
one, with belt and sash, buckled around 
him. (jeneral Dow was moimted on 
his own horse. The statement made 
b\" them, and him, as to his capture, 
was that he had been wounded at Port 
Hudson, either on the twenty-seventh 
of May or fourteenth of June. ])ut I 
think it was the twenty-seventii of May, and while recovering from his 
wound had been stopping at a house just outside of the lines of the United 
States soldiers ; that he had about recovered and had ridden down to camp 
one day, and just before reaching the house on his return, the young Confed- 
erate soldiers, having concealed themselves near the road, leveled their shot 
guns and pistols on him and demanded his surrender, with which demand 
he complied. General Dow took the capture lightly, said it was perfectly 
fair, and that it was tiie fortune of war, and he had no complaint to make, 
as the boys had treated him most courtei)Usly and kindly. He seemed to 
me to be a man of good nature and good humor, most pleasing in his 
conversation. He was taken from there to Clinton, turned over to 
General Logan, of the Confederate army, and 1 think was afterwards 
sent to Libl)y prison, Richmond. 1 am sorry to say that I do not know 
the names of the young Confederate soldiers. This is, 1 tliink, all that I 
know with regard to it. 

Very respectfully, 

Ja.mks H. Bkkkv."' 




SENATOR BEKRY, oi" Akk; 



4S6 The Fifteenth Xeii.< Heivif^shire \\>lujiteers. 

June 12, l'"ri(la}-. Very iileasanl ; not c|uite so hot. 
Minutes for the cla\' i;leane(l from man}' sourees : 

Company C out intrenching-; none hurt. 

Company A has six men on jMcket. 

The great cotton battery built under Captain Johnson, 
Lieutenant Chadwick, and Sergeant Hanson was battery i6. 

Man}- of tlie men are engaged in building a battery in 
advance of all our works, and which they nearly completed, 
and mounted one gun. The working party was fired on this 
evening, but none were hurt. 

Captain Osgood wounded in leg with buckshot. 

E. Kelley's body brought in and buried. 

Company K out all night working on intrenchments. 
Returned at al^out noon, and rested till about 4 v. m., 
when it went out to work on the fortifications. 

Batteries fired continuously all day. 

General Hanks was here in the forenoon, and said the j^lace 
would be taken within five days. 

Company D went out last night to finish the battery (No. 
16) and were fired on. 'i'hey receixed three or four volleys, 
which the}- returned, l^rad Philbrick is spoken of by some 
of his comrades as being ver}- cool and efficient, and compli- 
mented for enli\eiiing all occasions with his cheerfulness. 
(Seepage 15.) 

Sergeant Trickey, Compan}- I, sergeant of s]iari)sliooters, 
to re])ort at 7 o'clock in the exening, with fifteen men, to 
a lieutenant of the .Sixth Micliigan. 

Sergt. J. J. Hanson. Company 1), to-day detailed 1). P. 
Mason and fnc others of Compan}- I). ]KM-mancntl}- for 
sharpshooters. .Sergeant Hanson, who acted as orderl}' lor 
the company through the entire siege, detailed for sharp- 
shooters such as liked the work, and \)\\\ others on fatigue, 
as one such on tlie tiriiig line was worth several of those 
who were averse to it. 






Arviy Life at Port Hudson. 



457 




"^^^fT^Tri 




\\<V> lUKMiAM— C< 



N li. WASlllil'KN— Co. F. 



w^a^w^^^'^im^^m. 





GEORGE McDANIEL — Co. F. 



AI.MOX S. CHURCH - Ct 



458 TJic Fifteenth Xeto Hampshire W^lunteers. 

A large party of our men, who had been out forty-eight 
hours digging in the pits, with no sleep during the time, came 
in this noon. 

Diary of A. C. Haines, Company D, says : " Remained 
in camp all day ; at night ordered out to support battery. 
Only out little while when ordered to report to colonel's head- 
quarters. He gave us orders to fill our canteens and take 
supper and breakfast in our haversacks ; then we were 
marched down to Colonel Clark's, where we waited half an 
hour, when we were marched back again. We were then set 
to work lugging cotton bales up to within four hundred yards, 
and built a breastwork. I am twenty years old to-day." 

June 13, Saturday, rose in semi-tropical beaut)', and 
during the day the sun shed down his fierce rays with a 
blinding glare and intolerable and pitiless heat. But the deep 
green woods, where winged insects sung so merrily, looked 
cool and restful. A moisture brooded there, gixing a slight 
hazy tint to the fragrant atmosphere. The day ended in a 
glorious sunset, which must have been an equally glorious 
dawn to the occidental world. But among men the strife 
and work of blood went on amain, (^ur bixouac is in the 
woods ; but few are there, as nearl)- all are constantly 
on duty, and the unremitting vigilance and toil of the siege is 
strained to its utmost tension. Colonel Blair is busy every- 
where, and sleepless, about his multifarious duties. His arm 
is in its sling ; it is swollen and angry, and very painful. 
His sleeve is cut round the shoulder and ])inned up so that it 
can be readily dropjied to lay the wound bare. He and the 
other officers lixe in the bushes with the rest, and fare on 
hard bread and salt pork. He is often seen witli his sleeve 
down and pouring water on the wound. There is no shelter, 
and little rest or sleep ; the enemy open frequently, especially 
in tlie night, with their sporadic- shot and shell, and almost 
nightl)' those in camp are called on line \o repel a threatened 



A nil]' Life at Port Hudson. 



459 




JOHN PHRKIXS — Co. II. 






A, 


•■^ 


.udifl^ 





FIRST SKRGT. A. V. COX — Co. C. 



460 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire \ 'olunteers. 

sortie. It must be thought that similar work to that which 
is here described is going on in other regiments around our 
entire Hues. I have thought to-day that I would give a more 
minute and detailed account of affairs, and make copious 
extracts and Cjuotations, as such data seem now to be 
unusually plentiful. I sliall let the boys largel}' tell their 
own stories. 

Extracts from diaries and other sources for June 13 : 

Priv. John Perkins, at Camp Parapet, minutes to-day in his 
diary that Lieutenant Wood, Comj^any \\, was up and dressed 
for the first time. 

Major Aldrich is field officer of the day. 

Extract from history of Company D, by C. McGregor: 
" Very pleasant. Lieutenant Durgin went out foraging in 
the neighboring regions with a part}' of nine men ; he secured 
and slaughtered three cattle. The new battery on which the 
company had been engaged, and man^• others having been 
now completed, a general bombardment was opened all round 
the line. This bombardment commenced at 11 a. m. and 
continued till i i'. ivr., when it ceased, and under a Hag of 
truce (ieneral Banks sent in to the CcMifederate General 
Gardner a demand to surrendci-. 'l"o this (ieneral (Gardner 
replied that his duty required him to defend the place and he 
declined, and hostilities again reopened, h'our 3-inch rifled 
guns and six 12-pounder Parrots were drixen in to the work on 
which Comjxm}- 1) had been so long engaged. The work was 
very massive, with a wide, deep ditch in front, from which the 
earth was excaxated to construct the same. Toward the end 
of the work Chief pjigineer Haile\' became \er)- nervous, 
ami the men were urged to their utmost exertions ; tliere 
were many men on the work besides the Company I) 
boys. It seems that Cliief jjigineer Haile}"s orders were to 
ha\e the work completed in such season that tlie batter)' 
could dri\'e into the works before light of the thirteenth. 



Armj Life at Port Hudson. 461 

This was not quite accomplished, so that the battery, with 
horses lashed to the keen gallop, went in in broad daylight of 
the morning of that day, and was subjected to a terrible fire 
of the enemy's batteries, which killed some of the horses, 
and killed and wounded some of the men. At one time 
during the process of its construction the enemy opened on 
the fatigue party with small arms, and when the mistake had 
been made of stacking their guns on the outside of the ditch 
toward the enemy. In this emergency men would jump out 
and sweep a whole stack of the guns into the ditch at a time. 
After this experience the guns were stacked inside the ditch." 

Some one says : " Hewed timber for battery platforms, 
shovelled, and rolled cotton bales for two weeks. Gray horse 
battery went in in the morning ; lost one horse." 

C. E. White, Company D, says : " I well remember the 
night we carried and rolled bales of cotton up to within a few 
hundred yards of the rebel works to make a breastwork upon 
which to mount our heavy siege guns. And strange to say 
not a shot was fired, although we worked until it began to 
grow light. The second night, after working for about two 
hours, the Minies began to zip, zip, zip, along the line, until 
there was a perfect storm of bullets. We were then ordered 
to lie down in the trench we had been digging, each trying to 
get as near the bottom as possible. Soon the shot and shells 
were so bad we were ordered to take our muskets and go 
behind the breastworks so as to be ready to fight." 

Lieutenant Pickering says : " Bombardment of all the 
batteries around Port Hudson began at 1 1 a. m. At 5 p. m. 
received orders to be supplied with one hundred rounds, and 
be ready for any emergency." 

Sergeant Stevens, Company K, says : " Called out at 
night to support battery ; recalled at midnight. Got some 
hot coffee, and formed regiment in column and reported to 
Colonel Clark's headquarters at i o'clock of the fourteenth." 



462 The FiftcciitJi Xciv Havips/iirc Volunteers. 

Corporal Kchvards, Company K, says : " Company out 
all last night on fatigue. The rebs fired on us and drove us 
away from work about an hour, and we returned to camp at 
daylight and laid there all day. At 6 p. m. went to support 
battery. Flag of truce in the afternoon." 

The diary of Sergeant Trickey, Company 1, says : "I 
reported last night, as usually I do when detailed. The 
force, consisting of sixty men, one sergeant, and three 
corporals, with the lieutenant who took command, made 
sixty-five all told. W'e were then informed of the nature 
of our services. Thursday night a force had commenced 
throwing up an intrenchment to protect a 1 2-gun battery,* 
but had not completed it, and our duty was to advance 
one hundred and fifty yards in front of the work to i)rotect 
the force who were to finish it. W'e had to wait till 
dark in the garden of an old deserted plantation, and while 
waiting there the enemy opened on us with grape and canister, 
but they hurt no one. As soon as dark we advanced to the 
work, and filing aroundto the right of it crossed over the ditch 
in front and deployed in a sort of skirmish line, four yards 
apart, and advanced, as near as we could judge, one hundred 
and fifty to two hundred yards. The lieutenant and I under- 
took to align the men. They were then instructed to intrench 
themselves as well as the)- could. iuich was to dig a rifle 
pit and hold it at all hazards. The men worked tor dear life ; 
loosening the earth with their bayonets and throwing it out 
with their hands, was the way the work was accomplished. 
The detail was to be relieved at daylight, but no relief came, 
and through the long June day, the sun pouring down into 
the little gopher holes the men had dug, was terrible. A!)' 
canteen of water gave out in the night, and to-da)' was one of 
perfect torment. To go back to the breastworks was sure 

* NoTi:. Tliis must have been the liattcTV 16, on wliicli Captain 
Johnson and .Serjeant Ihmson had hccn cn,iia,ned several chiys an'd nights. 



An;n' Life at J'ort Hiuisc 



463 







-^^sm 






v^. 




•-^^^^^^^^^^^-•^''1 l.l,l..l«.lj 



464 I lie Fiftcoitli Xciv Hampsliiir 1 \^luntccrs. 

death, for every inch of the ground was covered by the rebel 
sharpshooters. Several times during the night the enemy 
opened on tlic work, but made no attempt to advance. 
Between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning (this Saturday) our 
men began to plant guns on the work, and the enemy opened 
a furious hrc upon it. We had to lie low then. As fast as 
one of our guns was jnit in position it replied to the enemy, 
and threw shells directly over our heads. One or two men 
and several horses were killed during the operation of mount- 
ing the guns, but they were all jnit in position and threw 
back defiance, in fact silenced the guns of the enemy. Dur- 
ing the day a sharp fire took place on the right between the 
pickets. About 1 1 o'clock this forenoon a furious cannonade 
along the whole line took place, and was taken up by the 
gunboats. The fire was kept up till i o'clock, when a charge 
was made by a handful of skirmishers, who were nearly all 
killed or disabled. During the firing the shells from our 
batteries burst over our heads, and our position was not very 
pleasant. During the afternoon there was a truce, and in 
company with others of our detail, I went up and met the 
rebels with their flag of truce (we first leaving our guns and 
equipments in the rifle pits). The truce lasted about an hour, 
and at the end of that time the firing of the pickets w^as 
resumed. We were drawn sometime between 9 and 10 
o'clock in the evening, having suffered fearfully from the 
heat and thirst during the last twenty-four hours. Returning 
to camp I found them making preparations for a change of 
base. Perfectly exhausted, I threw myself upon the ground 
and lay until about daybreak." 

b'rom diary of Lieutenant Perkins : " Took fifty skirmish- 
ers from our regiment and made an advance on the parapet ; 
got within twelve rods. Iladley, Company V, and Sergeant 
Wallace, Company I, were killed, and si.x more wounded. 
We laid on the field till 12 o'clock at night, when we were 
ordered to retreat. I"\'ll in with the regiment and marched 
three or four miles to the extreme left to make an attack." 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 465 

Major Aldrich : " Guns for new advanced battery placed 
in position, during which two were killed and three wounded 
of the battery men. At \ i p. m. received orders to prepare 
to march to the left. Men all aroused." 

The fighting had now been incessant, night and day, since 
May 26, and at the same time the siege operations had been 
pushed with the greatest vigor. Our long line of batteries 
are ready, and General l^anks, apparently to show the enemy 
their power, and convince them of the futility of further 
resistance, at 1 1 o'clock opens upon them with all their force 
around the entire line, and at the same time the fleet pour in 
their ponderous iron globes like hail. During this bombard- 
ment, which continued for two hours, a demonstration is 
made by advancing a skirmish line at double quick over the 
battle-field of May 27, when a flag of truce is sent in demand- 
ing a surrender, which General Gardner very politely decjincd. 
At this time the Confederate army within must very nearly 
have equalled our effectives, and besides, the enemy outside 
were becoming very bold and demonstrative. 

The skirmish line advanced this clay was composed of fifty 
men detailed from our regiment, and a like number from the 
Twenty-sixth Connecticut. They were commanded by Lieu- 
tenants Seavey and Perkins, of Company H. They received 
their instructions and order to march from Colonel Clark. 
They advanced over the field to within about sixty yards of 
the parapet. It would seem that the enemy, expecting an 
attack in force, at first poured upon them a terrific fire, but 
soon perceiving that it was merely a thin line of skirmishers, 
and wholly unsupported, slackened their fire, as they after- 
wards explained, disliking to shoot down bra^'e men under 
such unequal circumstances. They claimed that they could 
easily have killed every man, if they had been so disposed. 
The men lay on the field till 1 2 o'clock at night, when they 
were called off to join in the battle of the fourteenth. Private 



466 TJic Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire \\ylunteers. 

Burleigh, Company B, was one of these skirmishers, and not 
hearing the recall — being busy with his dipper and bayonet 
throwing up a little mound of earth for protection — lay 
there till morning. As it grew light he saw that he was the 
only man left on the field. He escaped by making succes- 
sive short runs and dropping in the grass at the end of each. 
The enemy fired at him all the way, but without seriously 
injuring him. At Burleigh's left was Harvey D. Powers, 
Company B, and Charles Bagley, Company A, at his right. 
Bagley was severely, and Powers mortally wounded. The 
flag of truce was carried on to the field by one of our ofificers 
and was met by one from the enem)- within twenty feet of, 
Burleigh's position. 

When the enemy rose to fire on the approaching line of 
skirmishers, our sharpshooters everywhere about the field got 
in their deadly work. Corp. J. D. Blake, Company H, was 
posted, with six or eight men under him, who fired on the 
enemy seen rushing by their sally-port, and saw one occa- 
sionally fall, and tlie dust rise up when he fell. These must 
have been Miles' men moving to the support of General 
Beall. (See note, Miles' report.) 

Note. Report of Confederate Colonel Miles : 

Ox THE FIELD, June 13, 1863. 
Major T. F. Wn.sox, 

Assistant Adjutant- General. 
Very early this morning we were quite severely cannonaded. Later on 
in the forenoon the most tremendous affair of the siege came off. From 
the fleet in the river, and from every gim in position on shore, came the 
quick flash and angry roar of threatening annihilation; the air grew thick 
with smoke and hoarse with sound. After some hours spent in this man- 
ner, it became apparent the enemy were making preparations for a charge. 
General Beall's line being most threatened, I sent one battalion to his 
support, keeping the balance of my force in position to repel an attack 
should one be made on my own lines, or move to the further support of 
General Beall. No attack was made on me, and after trving several times 



An/If Life at Port Hudson. 467 

to bring their lines to tlie assault, the enemy beat a hasty retreat. Nothing 
but a few of his sharpshooters approached the breastworks, and the neigh- 
borhood soon grew too hot for them. How many of them were killed and 
wounded I do not know. Of the battalion sent by me to General Beall's 
support, two men were severely wounded. Besides these, I have lost in 
my lines to-day one man killed and one wounded. Yesterday, on the 
extreme right (probably General Miles' right), where Lieut. -Col. Fred B. 
Brand commands, there were of the pickets one man killed, one wounded, 
and five captured. 

I am, Major, very respectfully your obt. servt., 

W. R. Miles, 

Colonel, &^c. 

Note. It is greatly to be regretted that the names of all the fiftv wlio 
participated in this affair cannot now be ascertained. So near as can be 
learned there were : 

From Company A — Andrew P. Wadleigh, Charles Bagley, wounded, 
D. S. Willey, Benjamin Ellis, and George W. Batchelder, wounded. 

From Company B — Alvin Burleigh, Richard C. Drown, Harvey D. 
Powers, fatally wounded, and Frederick Robinson. 

From Company E — Charles H. Adams, wounded, Lewis W. Sinclair, 
Elexis Marcott, wounded, and Joseph F. Mayot. 

From Company F — Lowell S. Hartshorn, Truewortliy L. Moulton 
Elias H. Hadley, fatally wounded (see page 19), Hiram Jones, and 
John Robie, wounded. 

From Company G — David S. Huse (see pages 22 and 336), John F. 
Chesley, William A. Chesley, David K. Nudd and James F. Moses. 
Piece of shell cut Moses' blouse and shirt through to the skin. 

From Company H — Lieutenant Seavey, Lieutenant Perkins, Charlie 
Buzzell, Tom Brown, Hugh Maguire, Robert Finnel, and Pat. Hyde, 
wounded. 

From Company I — Sergeant Wallace, fatally wounded, Charles Jen- 
ness, Jackson Shaw, wounded, Charles Godfrey and John Hurd. 

From Company K — Melvin Lowell, Edward B. Mosher and Osa D. 
Nichols. 



468 The Fifteenth .AVit' Hampshire W^binteers. 

Thi-: Ai)\a.\"ci-: oi" thi'. I""iftv. 

The call was for five men from each company. The men 
were selected the day before, and called on line and excused 
from duty, it having been explained to them that the service 
required was extra hazardous, and no man was wanted who 
feared to die. All such were gi\en permission to honorably 
retire, but no one left the line. It is said that some of the 
companies detailed the men, and that others called for fi\-e 
volunteers, which were readily obtained. Their instructions 
were to deploy at two paces, and advance double quick over 
the field and right over the enemy's parapet into their works. 
Their line was thus five hundred and ninety-four feet long. 
The purpose is said to have been to explore the debatable 
ground and deceive the enemy as to the point of the morrow's 
assault. They advanced directly o\cr batter}' 16 to within 
two hundred feet of the parapet when they were ordered to 
cover. There were stumps and bushes and tufts of grass 
there, and plantation furrows. Lieutenant Perkins dropped 
in an exposed place and was made the target of a Confed- 
erate marksman, who nearly grazed him several times. 

Private Jenness, Company I, was near Sergeant Wallace 
when he received his wounds. The sergeant received a 
charge of grape shot that penetrated his chin and chest and 
neck. He lay in a little plot of wild rye. He was a mere 
school boy, and expressed himself as ver}' loth to die and 
leave his voung wife, whom he had esi)oused just as he left 
for the front. lie died of his injuries on the fifteenth. (See 
page 28.) 

While lying here Iladley said to llartsliorn, " I'm agoing 
to get a little nearer." Hartshorn told him if he undertook 
to change his position they would shoot him. He said, "I 
can crawl along between these rows." He was crawling up 
wlicn he received a shot in the slioulder. He could not be 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



469 




LIEUTENANT SEAVEY — Co. H. 



470 The Fiftcoitli Xciv HaiupsJtiir J \}luntccrs. 

brought off till after dark ; his shoulder was disjointed and 
the bullet removed. (See page 19.) Captain Gordon brought 
home the bullet and gave it into the hands of his parents. 

When the charge was made Major Aldrich, field officer of 
the day, was at that part of the picket line near the Schalter 
house, and when the white flag advanced Colonel Clark 
requested him to leave off his side arms and ascertain what 
its purpose was. He advanced upon the field to the flag. 
Many others also, who were off duty, went forward to see the 
Confederate officers, who came forward oxer their works, also 
with a white flag. These flags met right b}' a huge stump, 
behind which Lieutenant .Seavey was sheltered, being flanked 
by two great roots. The bearers of the enemy's truce were 
a major of Miles' (Louisiana) Legion, accompanied by surgeons 
who came purely on a mission of mercy. They were pro- 
vided and offered to dress the wounds of any who needed, 
and W'adleigh, Company A, lying near b_\', was by them as 
carefully treated as though lie had been one of their own men. 
None of these skirmishers under this flag could cliange their 
position, but all things must remain absolutely in statu quo 
during its continuance. The sun blazed down upon them 
with scalding fury. The\- were famishing for water. The 
old stumj) and its roots that flanked .Seaxc}' were shot 
through and through. After a time the Confederate major 
gave Seavey permission to lise, and inc[uired of him who was 
there behind the stump with a rifle. Seavey replied, " Xo 
one but me ; I fired one shot." And the major said, " You 
killed our best sergeant. \'ou shot him riglit thrt)ugh the 
head." Then .Sea\e\- explained to him how it happened. 
He said, " .Sexeral shots were tired at the man on m)- left, 
when he said to me, 'That man means me; I wish \-()u would 

NOTK. .AftLT tlu' sunviukT, .Major Aldrich s.nv on lir;ull)oar(ls the 
name.s of two liL-utenants of Miks' l.i ^ioii. and twelve or tittccn otiiers, 
who fell on tiie twcntv -seventh, and the name of tiie sergeant that Lieu- 
tenant Seavev killed. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 471 

shoot him.'" Seavey said, " Give me your gun." There was 
a vacancy in the stump where a portion pulled out as the tree 
fell. Seavey pricked a hole through a rotten place on his 
side, and aimed through and watched for the smoke of 
the enemy's rifle, when he fired at the smoke immediately 
after its appearance. It came through sand bags. Seavey 
had noticed that the man did not lire again. 

In conversation with Major Aldrich, the rebel major said, 
" You have brave men here, and we ordered ours not to fire 
till we saw that yours were coming right over into our works." 
And he remarked, " You lost many men here on the twenty- 
seventh." Major Aldrich replied, "I suppose you did not 
wholly escape." " O," he said, " we had a few casualties." 
The major said, " I presume you lost some over there," point- 
ing with his hand, " when we silenced that battery." " Yes," 
he said, " we lost a few." 

And now, as soon as the truce was opened, Lorenzo Frost 
went on to the field with his men and stretchers to remove 
the wounded, but met the Confederate officers who forbid 
their relieving them in any way or carrying them from the 
field under a flag raised for another purpose. Both they and 
the uninjured were suffering untold agony in the hot sun, 
which the enemy offered to relieve, but which kindness was 
in many instances declined. 

NOTK. Of removini; the dead, Frost .says: "I went with men to 
remove the wounded, but met some Confederate officers who forbid us 
caring for the wounded or any to be carried from the field. But the men, 
both the wounded andunwounded, were suffering terribly in the hot sun; 
but when the Confederate officers saw their condition they said, ' We'll 
see General Beall, and if you will see your adjutant-general we will 
arrange to have tJiese men carried off.' 1 went at once to Adjutant- 
General Matthews, and he went down on to the ground and we were soon 
allowed, under that fiag, to carry off the wounded, l^ut no arms and no 
unwounded. For humanity's sake the enemy permitted this, to tlieir 
credit, under a flag raised for another purpose. The flag was raised to 
demand a surrender." 



472 TJic Fifteenth Xcil' Hampshiir W^Iuntccrs. 

Reminiscence of Captain Cogswell : 

" I was sent out with the flag of truce and conversed with 
the Confederate officers. They were very shabby in their 
dress. They first called for whiskey, and I sent for a canteen 
of it. They asked how we should use them if we got them ; 
if we would let them go to New Orleans to see their best 
girls. I inquired what they would do if they got us. They 
said, 'Will use you as well as we do ourselves, which is ]~)retty 
rough.' " 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 473 

The Midnicht Call to Arms. 

" How in the noon of night that rousing pibroch tin-ills." 

It was 1 1 o'clock or past when a horseman, spurring to a 
keen gallop, was heard coming up the road to our bivouac in 
the still woods, and almost instantly thereafter the orderlies 
roused their men by whisper. "Fall in, fall in," they said, 
stooping and shaking each, and the line was formed and 
immediately marched off in column to Colonel Clark's head- 
quarters, quite a distance to the rear, where hot coffee was 
served, and whiskey. The full brigade was here assembled, 
all our men having been called in, and after a respite of 
about two hours the whole marched off down through the 
woods to the left toward the river, till they struck the Mt. 
Pleasant road. This route, with its windings, made a march 
of certainly four miles, and possibly five, as it was taken far 
to the rear so as to be beyond hearing of the enemy's senti- 
nels, the evident purpose being to surprise the garrison before 
daylight in a new and unexpected quarter. It was Sunday 
morning now, and upon arriving at the designated point of 
attack, the blazing southern sun was already on the horizon. 
There was some further delay in effecting the formation, and 
after it was effected, with the Twenty-sixth Connecticut in 
front. Colonel Clark approached Lieutenant-colonel Blair and 
asked him if he would head the column with the Fifteenth 
New Hampshire. Blair replied, " Certainl}-, sir," and the 
change was made at once, and the advance commenced, pre- 
ceded by a line of about forty skirmishers, under Lieutenants 
Seavey and Perkins, of Company H.* Blair, with his arm in 
its sling and sword in his left hand, led his regiment about three 
rods in its front at a quick step forward, steadying the men 
and preserving as perfect line as was ever witnessed on the 
parade ground at Carrollton, until reaching the great ra\ine 

* Note. Many circumstances go to show that the same officers and 
men of the affair of yesterday were here advanced as skirmishers. 



474 l^^i^' J'^iftccntJi Xci^' Hanipsliiir I'olimtccrs. 

which fronted the enemy's works, and which was entirely 
unseen and unsuspected until close in its proximit)'. Its 
hanks were perpendicular for a depth of twenty to forty feet, 
and its hottom filled with chaparral, and it constituted an 
impassahle harrier. The growth in its hottom was somewhat 
taller than its steep banks, and the fine spray of its tips 
projecting above the general level, from a little distance 
looked like a mere fringe of bushes. Blair halted his regiment, 
marched it by the left flank to the Mt. Pleasant road, and 
forward along the road till there was sufficient room, when 
he halted, right faced, and moved on again in line of 
battle, until all fell into the ravine where the road makes its 
steep descent into its dense bottom, all these movements 
being made with the utmost coolness and exactitude, greatly 
to the suri)rise and admiration of the gallant foe within, 
although from the very start subjected to the most terrific 
fire, both of artillery and infantrv, ever poured upon an 
approaching host. The ]:)ost of honor held now b)- our regi- 
ment, as in the battle of the twenty-seventh, is in general 
the post of greatest danger, but b}" a singular chance of fortune 
the regiment here moving briskl)- forward, just escaped 
beneath the enemv's fire, which was so elexated as to work 
terrible haxoc and destruction in the regiments beldnd, 
but from which ours did not full)' escape. The lieutenant- 
colonel made strenuous efforts to press on through the ravine 
and ascend beyond to the enemy's parapet, which here, both 
by natural fastnesses and artificial skill, was douhl\- formida- 
ble and strong. lie, howexer, was gathering his men in 
hand ior the ascent when ordered to desist, being told by 
Colonel Clark that he might as well attempt to stoi-m the 
gates of hell. The)- then sat down in a shady spot and wijied 
their brows and waited for the night to come. And thus 
ended the bloody assault of June 14. 'ihe regiment lay 
concealed in the (.haijarral till after sunset, it being almost 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 475 

certain death to escape back across the open field except 
under cover of darkness. Too much cannot be said in praise 
of the conduct of the regiment on this occasion. The results 
of its splendid discipline were observed and remarked by all. 
During the advance the thunders of the enemy's artillery, and 
the bursting bombs and hissing and shrieking missiles that 
filled the air were deafening, but Blair, leading in front, never 
flinching, with his "steady men, steady," by his example and 
soldierly bearing kept all to their places, and though several 
were wounded not one man fell out from the line till all 
sought nooks of shade and concealment in the great chasm. 
But Corp. Hanson H. Young, Company G, who was a mere 
boy, just before the final start, being injured by a piece of 
shell striking him in the breast, drawing blood and causing 
him excruciating pain, was approached by Colonel Blair and 
excused from the line, and Edward B. Mosher, Company K, 
who was detailed before the charge for some hazardous ser- 
vice, was ne\'er seen nor heard of more by any of our own 
men. But the field behind was strewn with the dead and 
wounded of the Twenty-sixth Connecticut and the One 
Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York. No regiment was 
ever handled with greater skill, or behaved with greater 
credit under similar circumstances, than our regiment on this 
occasion. It had already won the name of " the fighting 
Fifteenth." It was assembled to the last man for this occa- 
sion, even the skirmish line of the day before being called 
from their position at midnight and sent forward to join the 
rest at Colonel Clark's headquarters. And one of them, 
Mosher, who escaped there, met his death here, as has been 
already stated, and several others were wounded ; and it 
appears that all of the uninjured of that affair, except Alvin 
Burleigh, who did not hear the recall, resjxjnded and shared 
in this battle. Our regiment on this occasion could not have 
mustered more than a third of its original numbers, and it 



476 The FiftccntJi Xciv HampsJiirc ]"oIuiitccrs. 

may truthfully be said that this was the last time that it ever 
paraded in force in view of the enemy. But its work, as we 
shall see, went on without remission to the end. This may 
be regarded as the culminating point of our regiment's ser- 
vice, and the acme of its career ; and it seems probable that 
no body of men was ever subjected to such a murderous fire 
and suffered so little scath. The regiment was assembled at 
dark at the rear, the dead, wounded and missing accounted, 
and then advanced one hundred rods, where it rested in the 
open field on its arms, in full view of the enemy's parapet, 
without supper or blankets, through the chilly, damp night. 

The gallant conduct of the Twenty-sixth Connecticut, 
which was with us at all times of trial and danger, should 
receive passmg mention. Although suffering greatly from 
the enemy's artillery, one especially effective shot nearly 
annihilating one of their companies, it moved steadil}- on until 
it reached the ravine, and like the T^iftcenth, \\\) to a jioint 
where further advance was impossible. 

Incident and personal mention : 

Ca)>tain Sanborn's memorandum: "At 4 o'clock that 
afternoon (the thirteenth) 1 was ordered out with four com- 
panies to support the battery a little to our left. .About 
midnight I was ordered in with the four comixmies lor the 
purpose of marching around to the south of the rebel works 
to make a charge, which we did about 7 o'clock next morn- 
ing, Sunday. During the advance a small cemetery was 
noticed, into which mortar shells had fallen, and, exploding in 
the ground, had thrown coffins bodily out upon the surface. 
Some of the shells made holes large enough to bur\- a yoke 
of oxen in. The position of the men in the ra\ine was 
enfiladed by guns of the enemy o\\ their parapet to the right." 

iJiary of Major .Aldrich .sa3s : " Bright antl beautiful. 
Started al 2 a. m. from brigade headt|uarters and marched to 
the left of the dixision, where the first and second brigades 



Ai'iny Life at Port Hudson. 



477 





llARl.i:> 11. I'ROCTOR — Co. c. 



CHARLES H. PROCTOI 





SAMUEL A. CURRIKR — Co. C. 



SAMUEL A. CURRIER. 



478 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire ]\)/initeers. 

charged at 5 a. m. through an enfilading and cross fire toward 
the rebel works, till compelled to halt by the character of the 
ground and murderous fire of the enemy. The Fifteenth 
New Hampshire Volunteers were in the advance, and kept 
their line perfect, ploying and deploying while advancing. 
Retired at sunset, and bivouacked on our arms without our 
blankets or supper." 

Corporal Blake, Company H, says: "We went clear 
across the bottom of the ravine, June 14. Saw Captain 
Sanborn there at the foot of the enemy's bluff." Blake had a 
corporal's guard of eight or ten men under him in gopher 
holes at midnight, when called to join his regiment at Colonel 
Clark's headquarters. 

Lieutenant Parker, Company E, says : " Colonel Blair, 
who was in command of the regiment, came down the line 
and said, ' Here, lieutenant, I want you to take command of 
Company B,' which I did, soon after which our brigade moved 
on the fortifications, our regiment in front, followed by the 
Twenty-sixth Connecticut, Sixth Michigan, and One Hun- 
dred and Twenty-eighth New York, Colonel Blair about 
forty feet in front of our regiment, constantly calling on the 
boys to keep steady ; this when a shell screeched over our 
heads, which I suppose every man thought just missed him. 
I know I nex'cr felt more like ducking in my life, but the 
'steady, men' of Colonel l-51air kept us in line, and as I after- 
wards learned from the rebs on our front, they never saw 
a regiment on dress parade that kept a better alignment 
than that front regiment. After striking the ravine near the 
old gate posts on the road to their works, a part of the regi- 
ment went into that, among them the company of which I 
had command ; balance of the regiment were to the left of the 
road. After regaining my feet I looked about, and owing to 
the dense underbrush, fallen trees, etc., could see none of 
the other companies. Colonel Blair was standing on the left 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



479 



bank of this deep t;ulf, and I called to him asking;' where 
the colors were, and he said, ' They are all rii;ht ; keep down, 
we can't afford to lose you,' but he did not ap)K\ar to have 
the same concern about himself." 

Corporal Bullock, Company F, says : " Sunday. Started 
at 12 o'clock; had some hot coffee, and then marched six 
miles to the left ; got there at half past 5 in the morning ; 
formed a line and made a charge, but were repulsed with 







^^ 



JOHN C. BROWN — Co. D. 



JOSEPH W. 



heavy loss in some of the regiments. We got into a ravine 
and stayed till dark, and then fell back to where we formed 
line of battle. Daniel B. Smith and William Baldwin 
wounded. We slept on our arms all night with nothing to 
eat. Hadley died." 

Diary of Corporal Edwards, Company K, says : " We 
were out in the rifle pits supporting the battery till about 12 
o'clock, when we returned to camp and the pickets and 
sharpshooters were ordered in, and the regiment fell in and 
marched about five or six miles before daylight, and waited 



480 The Fifteenth Xciv HavipsJiire Volunteers. 

about two hours, when we advanced upon the rebel fortifica- 
tions. We charged through a ravine about forty feet deep ; 
when we got out we came into a road. The rebel cannon 
raked the road with grape and canister, which killed and 
wounded our men fearfully. We had orders to fall down 
behind logs and stumps, etc. I got behind a log where I lay 
all day, when we went back to the woods and the regiment 
formed line and we lay on the ground all night without our 
blankets. I had my gun hit by a shot which stove the barrel 
in and spoilt it." 

Diary of Sergeant Stevens, Company K, extract : " The 
regiment was advanced one hundred rods after dark, in line 
of battle, and slept on its arms in the open field without 
supper." 

Sergeant Trickey's diary says : " I was routed at daybreak 
and found the regiment had moved to the left. In company 
with Sergeant Orme and a few others, followed on and 
overtook it just before sunrise. On our way we called into 
the division hospital and saw Sergeant Wallace, who was 
wounded in yesterday's fight ; they pronounced his case 
mortal ; he knew me. Hurrying on we joined the regiment 
a few moments before it made the charge. The enemy 
opened with their artillery, and their sharpshooters were 
busy at work. The orders were given to advance. The 
Fifteenth led, in command of Lieutenant-colonel Klair ; the 
Twenty-sixth Connecticut regiment followed us. In our 
advance the regiment came to an almost impassable ravine 
and deployed to the left, and clearing that, faced to the 
right, and then advanced upon the run. It was then the 
enemy opened with everything they could bring to bear. A 
shell passed over our heads and struck in the color company 
of the Twenty-sixth Connecticut, killing and wounding 
twenty-three, making fearful havoc. Our regiment soon 
came to a ravine and sought shelter, finding it impossible to 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 481 

cross so tangled were the trees, vines and bushes. Just 
before reaching the ravine I was wounded by a grape shot 
through my left arm. In course of an hour or two succeeded 
in reaching an ambulance, when I was taken to the field 
hospital, and after six or eight hours from the time I was 
wounded the wound was dressed, it having become much 
swollen and very painful. In the course of the afternoon 
was sent to Springfield Landing, and from there to Baton 
Rouge, reaching the general hospital there about 10 o'clock 
in the evening. I called on Colonel Kingman and several 
of our boys who were wounded, among whom were Corporal 
Rewitzer, who lost a leg, Solomon Newland and George 
Swain, both of whom died. John Mahoney was in the 
same hospital with me. I saw John Blaisdell ; I also saw 
some of the Twelfth Maine boys, among whom were George 
Lake and Corporal McClellan, both of Company B ; McClel- 
lan died while I was there. The general hospital contained 
seven hundred and twenty patients when I was admitted. 
The building used to be occupied as the state insane asylum." 
Sergeant Trickey says that when the ravine was reached 
Blair announced to Colonel Clark that he had met an obstacle. 
Clark said, "Clear the obstacle." Blair then moved the 
regiment by the left flank and then forward, under a terrific 
fire. Blair said, " You did that splendidly." 

Sergeant Burley, Company H, made his way back at noon 
and passed a boy on the field with his bowels out, and saw 
him replace them with his own hands, then draw about him 
his blouse, and so compose himself to die. 

George W. Durant, Company G, who was very severely 
wounded in the arm, made his way to the rear, and was taken 
onto the seat beside the driver of an ambulance, which was 
loaded with the wounded, and through the bottom of which 
blood was dripping, like water from an ice cart. As they 
passed along, they were piteously besought to take on others, 
some of whom, it was claimed, could not live unless they 
reached the surgeons immediately. 



482 The Fifteenth Xew HampsJiire Volunteers. 

Casualties oi- Jl'xk 14. 
\voi-Ni)i:i). 

Field — Lieutenant-colonel Blair. 

Company A — Lieutenant Pickering, sent to hospital next 
day ; Barnet H. Ames, John E. Tarbell, Simeon Stevens, 
G.'w. Batchelder. 

Company B — Fred A. Mitchell. 

Company C — Benjamin Bailey, John T. iJutton, William 
P. Oilman. 

Company D — Captain Johnson, William X. Duesbury, 
Samuel S. Johnson. 

Company li — Sergt. Josiah Norris, Daniel C. Abbott, 
James Richards, John Hodgmaii. 

Company V — Daniel B. Smith, William H. Baldwin. 

Company G — Hanson PL Young, Charles W. Adams, 
Monroe Brown, Oliver Lock, George W. Durant. 

Company H — Lieutenant Seavey, sent to hosi^ital, but 
returned in four or five days; Lieutenant Perkins, Martin L. 
Moore, Da\'id \V. Welton. 

Company I — Lieutenant Wallingford, \ery se\erel\' in 
shoulder ; George \\'. Tricke)', John W. l-51aisdell, Joseph IC. 
Brown, Joseph liamford. 

Kii.Li:n. 

Company K — iuhvin Jl Mosher. (See i^agc 31.) 

Total — Killed, i ; wounded, 33. 

There must ha\e been several others wounded, as the list 
is very incomplete. Companies 1^, C, V and K make no 
returns. 

Lieutenant-colonel Blair received the wound of this day in 
the afternoon, while taking a drink from a spring, the bullet, 
a Minie ball, coming through the foliage, striking and plow- 
ing a deep channel in his arm so near the old wound as to 
leave but a very narrow line of the skin between. It then 
struck him a powerful blow in the side. All grew to be one 
wound now, and became very much swollen, black, and indu- 



Anjiv Life at Port Hudson. 



483 





: 1:, 

CORP. LEWIS D. BADGER — Co. A. GEORGE A. r.VCi: Cc 




CORP. SAM'L S. MITCHlil.I, -Co. B. SAMUEL S. JOI 



484 



TJic FiftcoitJi New HainpsJiirc Volunteers. 



rated, and very painful. He passed the time in the ravine 
with Colonel Clark. After the wound Colonel Clark said to 
him that he should order him to the hospital on a surgeon's 
report. This Blair refused, as officers were now so scarce at 
the front that he felt he could not be spared. Lieutenant 
Moore was sunstruck, and received a shot through his sleeve. 

Samuel S. Johnson, Company D. /\ 32-pound shot struck 
a stump and threw off a shower of splinters, one of which 
struck Johnson in the stomach causing a severe concussion 
of the bowels, and from which he never recovered. 

David W. Welton, Company H. A fragment of shell 
struck his gun-stock, wrecking it and tearing off three of his 
fingers. 

William Adams had the figure 5 shot off the front of his cap. 

Martin L. Moore, Company H. Fragment of shell tore 
a piece out of his shoe, severely injuring his right foot, and 
from the effects of which he was permanently lamed. 

It was a day of general battle, like May 27, and like that 
day was one of disaster and defeat. 

The losses of June 14, are officially reported as follows, 
which must be far below the actual loss : 





Killed. 


Wounded. 


Missing. 


Total. 


Officers 


21 

.82 


72 
1.245 

1.317 


6 
180 


99 
1,607 


Men 






Tot-il 


203 


186 


1,706 





Note. General IJanks reports his losses (see page 47, official records, 
series i, vol. xxvi, ])art i ) : 

Mav 27 — 107 officers, 1.888 men, 1.995 

June 14 — 99 officers, 1,607 men, 1,805 



3.800 
There were 3,833 interments in Port Hudson cemetery alone, and judg- 
ing bv the losses in our own rci^imcnt, at least fifty per cent, more died in 
Baton Rouge, where tlic interments number 3,044, and many in New 
Orleans and other places. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



485 




MARTIN L. MOORE AND FAMILY. A war-time picture. 



486 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire W^lunteers. 

It should be borne in mind that amoni;' the wounded are 
inchided the mortally wounded, and that the missing must 
have been nearly all killed, as so far as known none on that 
day could have been made prisoners by the enemy. 

June 15, Monday. Beautiful day, with few light dashes of 
rain. General bombarding w-ent on. The men have had 
very little food and little rest since the thirteenth till near 
noon to-day, when rations w^ere once more served of fresh 
boiled beef, raw bacon, hard bread, hot coffee, and sugar. 
The blankets came up, and so the regiment is located in 
a new position. Captain Johnson, and Lieutenants Seavey 
and Pickering, of Company A, are taken to the field hospital. 
Sergeant Wallace, Company I, wounded on the thirteenth, 
dies to-day. 

Every inch of ground, gained by assault or otherwise, is 
strenuously held, and a gradual approach made to the enemy's 
parapets. Pickets would be advanced at night, each with a 
shoveller, who fell silently but diligently to work to make a 
slight excaxation, throwing up earth on the side ne.xt the 
enemy. 'i"he shox'eller then withdrew, and the picket sought 
the shelter thus j^rovided, resumed the shovelling, enlarged 
and improNcd the excavation, and worked toward the next 
pickets until they met, thus forming a new and advanced 
line of rifle i)its. 

The ground is now occu]Med clear to the river, the ravine 
into wliich tlie regiment fell in yesterday's battle opening into 
the mighty stream, a beautiful and romantic valley with a 
small brook meandering through its verdant depths. At its 
broad mouth on eitlier liand are lofty promontories frowning 
at each other, and their ri\er faces vertical to a sheer height 

XoTK. It is prohal)!^ that Klias II. lladlcy died after midni.^ht of tiie 
tliirtct'iitli. He was Imried on the lit'tei'iith. C"a])tain (lordoii standing by 
the while. -Some ne.!j,n)es du.i; Ids i;rave. lie was huried in hi.s blanket. 
The captain carved his name on a i)iece of board, .md set it at his licad. 
(See page 19.) 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



487 





CORPS. AUSTIN MORSE AND 
ANDREW C. ROLLINS— Co. C. 



J. J. SWAIN— Co. D. 



»»^»i2 





JAMES C. THURSTON -Co. C. BENJAMIN F. BURNHAM — Co. C. 



488 The I'lftccnth Xciv Hanipshirc ]'olunti'crs. 

of apparently an lumdred feet, l^^'oni height to heii;ht across 
the chasm is a distance of three hunch-ed and forty yards. 
On the enemy's side, on this natural elevation, are their 
strongest works, redoubled and intricate, a perplexing laby- 
rinth, while nature's hand also has made them not only 
inaccessible, but well nigh impregnable. This is their 
citadel, or " Malakoff," as it came to be called. 

The fortunes of the siege are now grown most desperate. 
Our effectives are reduced to a very low ebb, and possibly do 
not outnumber the besieged. The enemy outside are bold 
and aggressive. The Confederate General Logan, with his 
cavalry, watches our lines from the rear like an eagle, and 
swoops down on e\ery accessible point. Dick Taylor, son of 
old President Zachary, threatens our army from the interior. 
They approach the river between us and New Orleans, and 
open on our transports with artiller)' and guerrillas, and the 
great and seditious city itself seems about to fall back again 
into their hands, being now held by only about four hundred 
of our own men, and the con\'alescents at the Parapet are 
roused and called to man the ram])art b)- freciuent alarms. 
\'icksburg still holds out, and this stronghold shows no 
signs of yielding. It must be admitted that our men are 
showing some signs of uneasiness. Hut it seems the more 
desperate our state becomes, the higher should our courage 
be raised, and efforts be put forth commensurate with our 
fallen fortunes. 

.At 5 o'clock in the afternoon the regiment is called on 
line, and General Hanks' famous order, No. 49, was read, 
calling for a thousand volunteers for a storming column, as a 
last desperate and forlorn hope. It does not appear that they 
were to be pushed forward to the assault, except that the 
outside enemy became dangerously strong and menacing, and 
at that juncture when the place must be carried regardless 
of its cost in blood, in order to sax'c New Orleans and the 
ri\er below, for if the}- fell then all was lost. This famous 
order was in these words : 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 489 

Headquarters Department of the (kLF, 19TI1 A. C, 

liEFORE Port Hudsox, July 15. 1863. 
General Orders. ) 
No. 49. ) 

The commanding general congratulates the troops before Port Hudson 
upon the steady advance made upon the enemy's works, and is confident 
of an immediate and triumphant issue of tlie conflict. We are, at all 
points, upon the threshold of his fortifications. One more advance and 
they are ours. 

For the last duty that victory imposes, the commanding general sum- 
mons the bold men of the corps to the organization of a storming column 
of one thousand men to vindicate the flag of the Union and the memory 
of its defenders who liave fallen. Let them come forward. 

Officers who lead the column of victory in this last assault may be 
assured of the just recognition of theii' services by promntion, and e\"ei'v 
officer and soldier who shares its perils and its glor_\-. shall receive a 
medal fit to commemorate the first grand success ot the campaign of 
1863 for the freedom of the Mississippi. His name will be placed in 
general orders upon the roll of honor. 

Division commanders will at once report the names of the officers and 
men who may volunteer for this service, in order that the organization 
of the column may be completed without delay. 
By command of 

Major-CiEneral Paxks. 

Rich'd p. Irwix, 
Assistant Adjutant- General. 

Only one hundred and fifty men of our regiment appeared 
on line ; they stood in plain sight of the enemy's parapet, but 
at long rifle range. They are a sad remnant of that brilliant 
host that left the old Granite State, but about an equal 
number are on duty in the trenches and on the firing line. 
The actual effective combatants could number but a little, 
if any, over three hundred. 

Upon the reading of the order, one alone, \V. I. Coburn, 
Company H, stepped promptly two paces to the front. 
Colonel Blair apparently expected a generous response, and 
after some hesitation he inquired, " What shall I tell the 
general is the reason you do not volunteer .' " A \-oicc down ' 



490 



The Fiftcc}itli Xcw HauipsJiirc Vohintccrs. 



the line rejilied, " We're all cut to pieces now."' Lieutenant 
Larkin, who was alwa_\s eai;er and impetuous for the fray, 
realizing; that he could not go except there were also a 
sufficient number of enlisted men, instantly replied, " We 
are not cut to pieces," and made some very vigorous remarks. 
JUit the concensus of those present was ascertained to be 
that after tluir recent experience, and in their weakened state, 
they would not choose to be further reduced by taking their 




.IKUTKNANT LARRIN— Co. K. 




W. I. COUUKN— Co. H. 
See pages 336 and 3S2. 



best men from each comi)any, but that the)- would go as a 
body there or an\whcre they might be ordered. In this 
Colonel Hlair concuncd. in a few words he said if all could 
go he should be well pleased to ha\e it so, but as our regi- 
ment had suffered, as he thought, more than any other in the 
army, he would not like to see its best men ]iickcd from the 
various comjjanies and so throw the liard serxice now before 
them u])on tlic remaining few ; that the state ot his own 
wound was sucli that he could not be accepted to lead them, 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 491 

and no officer could be spared from that part of the line, nor 
men either, if it was to be held against even the feeblest 
sortie. Taking out men who would volunteer for such 
service would greatly endanger our position, as we held the 
very front next the enemy and under continual fire, and in 
constant expectation of a sortie day and night. If one 
should now be made it would require the sacrifice of every 
man to hold the line and prevent the escape of the enemy 
into the open country. I^it the thousand men were forth- 
coming, and many more, without our aid. 

As it proved it would ha\e been a place of rest and 
security if Blair could, as he would well have liked, taken the 
whole regiment into this column, for the assault never took 
place, and instead now of these x'olunteers performing an 
active part in the remaining redoubled work and danger of the 
siege, they passed the time in inglorious ease, while those who 
remained had to go on with greatly increased burdens to the 
end. The volunteering for the advance of May 27 and of ^ 
June 13, was perhaps a braver act than this of the prospective 
storming column. They went without inducement, simply 
from a sense of duty, and they actually went immediately to 
their work, which was right before them ; these merely 
offered themselves for prospecti\-e work, and with inducements 
held out, but escaped performance. Yet the circumstances 
under which the latter came forward, and in full expectation 
of an immediate trial of their prowess, rendered it in many 
respects an act of unparalleled heroism. 

At dark Lieutenant Parker was placed in charge of one 
hundred men for a burying party, who proceeded upon the 
field and hastily interred all that could be found, the picket 
line being advanced beyond where the dead lay. Also fatigue 
parties were sent out to construct rifle pits ; and in the night, 

Note. Colonel Blair clid not report Lieutenant Larkin and Private 
Coburn to headquarters as volunteers for the storming column, and they 
accordingly remained on dut\- at the front. 



492 TJic Fifteenth Xeiv Humps Jiire ]\)Iimteers. 

at the alarm of the pickets, whose firing became a perfect 
fusilade, the line was formed in expectation of a sally from 
the enemy's works. Captain Sanborn, with Company H, 
was sent out to support a battery, right in the face of the 
enemy's works and shells, and la)' there on their arms all 
night. 

New Hampshire Volunteers for the Stokmino Party. 

Fifteenth XeiL< }{anipsJiire. 

Lieutenant Larkin, Company K. 
Priv. W. I. Coburn, Company H. 

Fighth Xeio HanipsJiire. 

Capt. Joseph Ladd, Company D. 
Lieut. D. \\\ King, Company A. 
Priv. John Riney, Company B. 

Sixteenth Xe7^' Hampshire. 

Capt. John L. Rice, Company H. 
Lieut. Edgar E. Adams, Company F. 
Lieut. Edward J. O'Donnell, Company C. 
Corp. Daniel C. Daccy, Compan)' A. 
Corp. Clinton Bohannon, Comixuiy C. 
Corp. William A. Rand, Comjxan}' K. 
Priv. P^dward J. Willey, Compan)^ \^. 
Priv. Asa Burgess, Company C. 
Pri\-. Rufus L. Jones, Compan)' K. 



ArjHf Life at Port Hudson. 493 

June 16, Tuesday. Very pleasant, cool morning; heavy 
shower just at night. The regiment now has its bivouac in 
the wooded ravine just back of the battle-field of June 14. It 
is a beautiful and shady grove within ; a little rill runs through 
the bottom to the river which is only a few steps away. 
Here those off duty regale themselves ; they go down to the 
river to bathe and wash their clothing ; they shave and have 
their hair trimmed. If their friends from New Hampshire 
could call here now they would scarcely suspect that it was a 
place of war and danger. But let one of them step out of 

Note. 

Headquarters of Western Louisiana, 

Bayou La Fourche, June 15, 1863. 

CoL. John L. Logan, Co}>una}iding Cavalry Brigade: 

Colonel: Your dispatches to Lieutenant-General Smith, ALijor-General 
Gardner, and Brigadier-General Mouton, by Lieutenant Cooper, have 
just been received and opened by me. 

I have a brigade of cavalry, and two brigades of infantry, and four 
batteries of light artillery now e7i route to tlie Mississippi river, and shall 
attack the enemy opposite Port Hudson to-night, and will establish 
communication with Major-General Gardner and throw beef cattle into the 
garrison. A large cavalry force of my command will cross the Atchafalaya, 
in the extreme southern portion of the state, and will penetrate to the 
lower Mississippi coast by the way of tlie La Fourche section. 

The command with which 1 shall operate against the enemy opposite 
Port Hudson will, after clearing out the section between Baton Rouge 
and Morganza, move down by Donaldsonville to the lower coast, and 
with light batteries, I hope to be able to prevent the passage of supplies 
by the river on transports. If any means can be devised to cross the 
river, I would be glad to throw one or two cavalry brigades to operate on 
the east bank of the Mississippi. You can communicate with me or the 
officer who may be in command of tlie forces operating in this section, by 
way of Morganza. I will communicate with General Gardner, if practi- 
cable, to-night, and will forward your dispatch to him at the same time. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

R. Taylor, 
Major- General Cotnniatiding. 



494 



The Fiftccntli Xciv HmiipsJiirc W^limtccrs. 



the woods onto the enemy's side ; the enem)-'s works are in 
plain view. The (^rcat trees that stand in the ravine stretch 
their giant arms far out over the level grass of the open field 
in front. Men are lounging here, and smoking and i)laying 
cards. There are ammunition boxes and cracker boxes lying 
around ; some one is peddling sugar and gingerbread, and 
such luxuries. Occasionally the rebel riflemen send over a 
bullet that zips apjiarcntly right past the ear ; no one pa^■s 





JOHN H. LANCASTER — Co. D. 
See page jSS. 



IHROT. W.M. n. l'IIII,l!Rt)OK— Co. H. 
See i)age 405. 



the slightest attention to it ; but these bronzed old soldiers 
seeing a stranger there would ad\ise him to witlulraw into 
the ravine. But we can go forward in tlic liflc i)its antl see 
the prodigious work that is going on. l^atteries 22, 2}^ and 
24 are being constructed, and the zigzag road at the river is 
being cut across the mouth of the \alle\. Tliousands of 
men, both colored and white, are shoxclling and j^icking there 
under engineers trained at West Point. As the work pro- 
oresses each inch of it is lined with riflemen, their rifles all 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



495 





CORP. AXIiRI.W C Kol.I.IXS— Co. C. CURTIS BEDELL — Co. C. 




MILO C. POLLARD— Co. C. BURGESS C. KIMB.\LL — Co. C. 




496 TIic luftcciith .AVtc' Havipshirc Voiiintccrs. 

cocked and sii;hted on the enemy's parapet. There was 
another alarm last night, and the line was formed. It was 
caused by the enemy firing on our pickets and fatigue men. 
Great wagon trains of cotton come in, and 9-inch and lo-inch 
siege guns and mortars, some of the guns with as many as 
seventeen mules attached. 

Walter B. P'arnum, Wilder B. Griffin, and Justus B. Penni- 
man, all of Company B, died to-day. Farnum and Griffin 
died together, and side by side, at Baton Rouge. Ezra C. 
Willard appointed fourth sergeant. Several convalescents 
come up from Camp Parapet. Edwin J. L. Clark wounded ; 
lost one finger by a shot from the enemy. He had his hand 
dressed, and kept on duty. 

There were rattlesnakes and other strange beasts in the 
woods where we slej^t, but all were harmless, and we dwelt 
together in peace and unity, and so long as they did not 
molest us it seemed wanton cruelty to destroy the innocent 
creations of the omnipotent God, and yet some, having the 
human form, would heartlessly strike down examples of His 
beauteous handiwork, ofttimes whose innocent lives were worth 
perhaps more than their own. This was a sort of race warfare, 
wherein there was no casus belli, excuse or provocation. The 
rattlers were exquisitely painted. On waking from a day- 
time nap on the ground, quite commonly one or more of the 
little Louisiana chameleons would dart out of our noble 
bo.soms, and scamper up a tree, apparently regarding it as a 
great joke and laughing as though his sides would split, and 
in which merriment of the mirthful little creature we could 
join, all laughter is .so contagious, l^ut in nature's great 
republic there was a class of citizens who were not so inno- 
cent and free from guile, and who actually attacked and 
warred upon the human race in shoals and nations. It was 
the race pcdiculus vcstimoiti. Historical truth requires that 
it should be related of this curse, that they constituted one of 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 497 

the great annoyances and hardships of a soldier's Hfe. One 
could go forth against them in self defense, and though slay- 
ing them by thousands could never be rid of them for a 
moment. Though none could be missed, it was argued that 
if a thousand were killed there were a thousand less. At all 
times men could be seen with the vcstimcnti removed, sitting 
in shady nooks and busily occupied in this war of extermina- 
tion. In those days of slavery, when it was sought by the 
church and its other promoters, to show that the negro was 
a different specie from the whites, and designed by the 
Creator expressly to be a servant of others, to sustain their 
position it was seriously argued that the negro was infested 
by a different louse from that which preyed upon the white 
man. How this argument would hold in the case of mulat- 
toes and the exquisite yellow girl, it is hard to see ; or did 
they have half-breeds and octoroons among lice also } and if 
so, the specific negro louse must have soon become a ram 
avis, as nearly all the slaves of the South were children of 
their own masters, or born with white blood in their veins. 
Nearly every soldier here was about as badly off as a certain 
king of old, who was so infested that two of his slaves were 
constantly engaged removing lice from his person and con- 
veying them to the sea in baskets. But these particular 
creatures were translucent, and each had two parallel dark 
stripes running down his back. They were generally crushed 
to an ignominious death and spurned to rot above ground, 
whether they were of the negro variety, quadroon, octoroon, 
Creole, or full-blooded whites, and many could sit for an hour 
on the crazy bridge that crossed the little brook in our ravine 
and drop them through the cracks in the flooring to a watery 
grave beneath, and all the while enjoy the sweets of revenge 
like a Modoc Indian. Doubtless nature does nothing in vain, 
but it has not yet appeared why these creatures exist ; the 
good old dame ought to be ashamed of them. Shakespeare 
says they are a familiar beast to man, and signify love. And 



498 TJic FiftccntJi Nciv HanipsJiirc ]^oluntccrs. 

it was amusing to note in the sunny South that courtship 
among the contrabands was effected by the colored " gemman " 
laying his woolly head in his best girl's lap, while she sought 
the pcdicitlns capitis with a pleasure and happy state wealth 
and culture can ne\'er know. And notice the numbers of 
those impudent and shameless little rascals, and each indi- 
vidual louse, that his race might not become extinct, reared 
and established in business a famil}' of fifty children every 
eighteen days. 

John M. Powers, Company C, wounded in head while in 
the trenches. 

June 17, Wednesday. Somewhat cloudy and cool. Lay 
in the rain and mud last night. Fine shower this morning ; 
rice and coffee for breakfast. The pickets talk with each 
other and have become quite social and agreeable, and 
arranged among themselves not to fire till notice is given ; 
it is now quiet and safe at this point, and both sides are 
working on their batteries in plain sight of each other. The 
enemy, in their butternut and slouched hats, are busy as 
beavers on the lofty ramparts of the " Malakoff," strengthen- 
ing them and preparing a stout defense. A call is made for 
men acquainted with mining and tunnelling, and some Cali- 
fornia forty-niners respond, l^ombarding goes on, on other 
parts of the line. 

Captain Cogswell sent to hospital at l^aton Rouge, and 
Sergeant Gordon takes command of Company A. 

Captain Sanborn, ha\ing been absent a day or two in 
hospital, returned to duty. 

Captain Osgood is sent to hospital with wountl and the 
shakes, and is quite sick. 

Isaac S. Jones, Company B, dies. 

Sergeant Spencer says : " Hard night ; lay on wet, muddy 
ground in the rain ; no shelter ; cloudy this morn. \\\\ 
pretty lame with rheumatism ; if I was at home I should be 
sick and in bed, but it will not do for a man to be sick in this 
country." 



Anjiy Life at Port Hudson. 



499 




SERGEANT GORDON — Co. A. 

June 1 8, Thursday, was ver}- wet and foggy in the morn- 
ing, with appearances of rain ; soon cleared off, and was \'ery 
hot. Heavy details are made for fatigue work, and thousands 
of negroes and soldiers are busy preparing breastworks and 
platforms for guns. Some deserters come in. Company B 
is in command of Sergt. G. B. Pennock. 

June 19, Friday, was a beautiful morning, followed by a 
hot, bright day. Still working on batteries on our bluff, and 
the enemy can be seen busily working on the face of theirs. 
No firing at this point. Lieutenant Parker, of Company \\, 
goes out with a detail of seventy men to work on rifle pits. 



500 The Fifteenth Xew HainpsJiire W^lnnteers. 

Lieutenant IV-rkins visits the iron-clad, " Essex." which Hes 
one half mile below the lower battery in the river, with 
ten other warships and a large number of mortar boats ; 
they lie opposite a great cotton plantation. He says, 
"There are rebel works all along here, but they have left 
them. It is a fine country ; the scenery is beautiful." 
Lieutenant Seavey returned to duty. 

Note. A soldier's letter. Lieutenant Perkins. Written on two 
small scrap.s of paper : 

"Camp before Port Hunso.v, June i8, 1863. 
Dear Wife : 

" I write this to let you know that I am still in the land of the living, 
and in good health. I have been in two more attacks on the fort, and 
got off with only a slight bmise. Last Saturday Lieutenant Seavey and 
myself took charge of a storming party of fifty men from our regiment 
and went within eight rods of the parapet, but received so hot a fire that 
we could not advance, and dropped on the ground. We laid there four 
hours, with the balls singing and striking all around us. Two men were 
killed and eight wounded in our fifty. Bagley, Company A, was shot 
through the hips and is not expected to recover. Hadley, of Dorchester, 
Company F. was killed. They were both near me. We made the 
attack at 10 A. m., and did not get off the field till 2 o'clock the next 
morning. We then fell in with the regiment and marched three miles to 
the extreme left, and made an attack at 7 o'clock Sunday morning, and 
were repulsed. Our regiment was lucky, although in the advance. We 
had ten or twelve wounded, and none killed. Luther (M. L. Moore) 
was slightly wounded in the foot. The Twenty-sixth Connecticut lost 
seventy killed and wounded. The One Hundred and Sixty-.second, One 
Hundred and Twenty-eighth, and One Hundred and Seventy-fifth New 
York lost heavily. The L. D. (Londonderry) boys are all comfortable. 
Our companv has hut thirty for duty. One wlio was wounded in the first 
batde has died. I received yours of the twenty-fifth with the apple 
blossom. I don't know whether we shall .succeed in taking this place or 
not, but I think if we had been managed right we should have taken it 
before now. We are in danger of an attack in the rear. Deserters 
come out every day; two have just come in. 1 have been talking 
with them. Our forces are so near that we talk with each other, and the 
pickets agree not to fire at each other. We are erecting !)reastworks and 
mounting giuis. I don't know when I shall see you, or whether 1 ever 
shall, but whether I do or not, may God bless you all. 

Wasiiin(.ton.'' 



Annj Life at Port Hudson. 



501 





GEORGE W. HACKETT — Co. 



JOHN S. CURRIER— Co. K. 





MOSES B. DAVIS — Co. E. 



D. A. CHESLEY— Co. G. 



502 TJtc Fifteenth Xe7^< Hampshire W^luntcers. 

June 20, Saturday. Hot ; cloud}- in the afternoon ; break- 
fast of cold coffee and fried ham, and the never-failiui^- hard- 
tack. There was some bombarding last night ; the enemy 
threw some shells into our camp, and fired upon our sharp- 
shooters, wounding three men, one of whom was Joseph D. 
Moulton, Company A. Ditching, building parapets of ship- 
loads of cotton and imbedding them in mountains of earth, 
and planting batteries, goes on incessantly. Lieutenant Per- 
kins is out with fifty men intrenching. There was some 
sharp firing in the afternoon, and heavy fighting to our right. 
The gunboats are shelhng the works. The rebels attacked 
Donaldsonville, sixty miles below us, and destroyed two 
transports, but failed to capture the fort. 

The work is very severe on the officers. The report of June 
20 shows that every captain is absent, by order of the 
surgeon, sick or otherwise debilitated, but most!}' for a day or 
two only. First Lieutenants Hazeltine, Company C, Chad- 
wick, Company D, Parker, Company E, and Wood, Company 
K, are on duty ; and Second Lieutenants Bean, Company 
C, Pickering, Company G, Perkins, Company H, and Larkin, 
Company K. Company A reports 44 enlisted men; B, ^6 \ 
C, 35 ; L), 33 ; K, 42 ; V, 36 ; G. 31 ; H, 33 ; I, 33 ; and 
K, 57. lUit this includes the musicians and cooks and 
wagoners, and the sick and w^ounded who are not sufficiently 
debilitated to go to hospital. Colonel Blair is ordered to 
hospital, but declines to go because of the scarcit}- of officers 
at the front. 

Charles II. W'illey, C(Mnpany 1^, and William J. Pond, Com- 
pany II, die. 

June 21, Sunday. The sun rose clear and hot, but soon 
went into a cloud and remained obscured all da)', with 
considerable rain in the afternoon. A \ery heav)- shower 
at night and a wet and muddy bed. The pickets were 
advanced last night, and there was at the time cjuite sharp 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 503 

firing ; several were wounded. The prodigious work of the 
siege goes on. Lieutenant Perkins goes out again at 7 
o'clock in the morning with fifty men on fatigue. Rebel 
sharpshooters wounded one man — Ora H. Heath, Com- 
pany F. 

Joseph K. Heselton, wounded at Port Hudson, June 21, 
1863, in arm by shell. Served in P'irst New Hampshire 
Volunteers full term, and in the Tenth after discharge from 
the P"ifteenth, from August 12, 1864, to October 27, 1864, 
when he was captured at P^air Oaks, Va., and died in prison 
at Salisbury, N. C, January 29, 1865. 

Private Giles, of Company p], wounded, and also a man of 
Company A. 

Thomas Sculley lighted his pipe night of June 21, and 
drew fire that wounded Joseph K. Heselton and others. 

Note. A letter written in tlie trenches by Lieutenant Perkins, 
Company H : 

" Before Port Hudson, June 21, 1863. 
Dear Wife : 

" I received yours of June i, last nio;ht. I have time to write but a few 
words to-day as I am out on a fatigue party at work on intrench- 
ments. We haven't taken Port Hudson yet, but I think we shall before 
long. My health is good, but it is rather a dangerous place to live in 
where we are. We had three men badly wounded last night by shells 
which were thrown in as we were quietly sleeping. We are preparing for a 
regular siege, and putting a chain of fortifications all around them, and when 
we get ready to open on them a storming party of one thousand men are 
going to charge the works. I haven't volunteered to go in it, for I have 
been in three sucIt charges and don't feel more desire to try it again, but 
if we are sent in you maybe sure I shall not flinch, for having tried it I 
know that I can face the danger without faltering. I can't bear the idea 
of going away and leaving the place in the hands of the enemy. What 
we do must be done soon, for the rebels are threatening us all around, 
and there is a prospect that we may be attacked in our rear, which would 
make bad work for us. Can't stop to write any more. 

Yours, 

Washington." 



504 The Fifteenth Xcii.^ Hampshire ]\)lunteers. 

June 22, Monday. Warm and showery. Company inspec- 
tions. Fatigue work goes on the same. There is some 
picket firing ; the enemy throw a few shells into our fatigue 
party. Blair came into the trenches to the sho\ellers and 
talked with them about another charge, and said something 
about going home after Port Hudson falls. Lieutenant 
Parker officer of the day. 

Lewis Blake, Company A, died at liaton Rouge. 

June 23, Tuesday. Very hot in the forenoon ; little 
rainy in the afternoon. Digging, getting ready for another 
charge ; no firing here. Occasional firing on the right of 
the lines. Extending works to river and in front toward the 
enemy ; picking blackberries in the ravine ; washing clothes, 
etc., in river. Fine shower this morning and beautiful rain- 
bow before 8 o'clock, and another in the afternoon. At 7 
p. M. raining hard. 

Note. "General Hosimtal, J>atox Rouge. 

Tuesday, June 23, 1863. 
My Dear Mary : 

" -Since I last wrote \'ou I lia\"e been into another li^lit, and tlie ix'.sult is 
I am liere. I was wounded twice, once by a nuislcet ball, a slight 
scratch, and soon after by a grape shot tVoni a 6-pounder, so the surgeons 
said. It went through tlie muscle of m\ left arm, inflicting a pretty bad 
flesh wound, but fortunately hitting no bones. I am doing nicely, 
although my arm j)ains me badly at times. 1 was wounded Sunday morn- 
ing, June 14, at about sunrise. Our regiment led the charge, Lieutenant- 
colonel niair in command. We were followed by the Twenty-si.xth 
Connecticut, Sixth Michigan, and One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New 
York. The orders were to carry the enemy's works at the point of the 
bayonet, but we met with a disastrous repulse, although our regiment did 
not suffer .so much as it did May 27. 

In niv last, written June lo, I wrote \'ou that im|)orlant events were 
transpiring, and that a battle might be expected at any moment. The 
evening ot" June lo I was on picket, and skirmished some during the day 
after. 'I'he next day, June 12, was olf duty : was notified to hold myself 
in readiness for a dangerous duty that night, and rest and sleep all I 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 



505 





BENJ. B. BATCHELDER — Co. D. DANIEL P. MASON — Co. D. 





CHARLES C. BUNCE — Co. D. JOHN RICHARDSON — Co. D. 



5o6 



Tkc Fifteenth Nc.. Ha,npslnn Voluuurrs. 



%:r^>' 




\ j^^SMi- 



Sl-RG. BEN- 



JAMIN N. TOWI.E. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 507 



Surgeon Benjamin N. Towle. 

When Fort Sumter was fired upon by the rebels in 1861, 
Dr. Benjamin N. Towle was the first man in the town of 
Newmarket, N. H., to respond to the call of the President 
for volunteers, and to offer his services to the governor of 
the state for the defense of his country. In 1862 he was 
appointed assistant surgeon. Fifteenth Regiment of New 
Hampshire Volunteers. His regiment was placed under the 
command of General Banks, and in the course of' time, with 
others, proceeded to Long Island, to sail from thence under 
sealed orders. The destination proved to be New Orleans, 
La., and Dr. Towle's regiment was stationed at Carrollton, 
in the same state. In April, 1863, he was detailed to serve 
in the Barracks hospital, not far from New Orleans, and near 
the battle ground of General Jackson, and there he remained 
during the rest of his term of service. He was selected to 
have full charge of the surgery of the hospital, and all the 
operations during his service there were performed by him. 
The morning reports of the surgical department in this 
hospital, showed that the recoveries were fifteen per cent, 
above those of any other hospital in or about New Orleans. 
At the expiration of Dr. Towle's term of service he was 
offered a continuance of his position in the hospital as a con- 
tract surgeon, but this appreciative and complimentary offer 
he felt obliged to decline on account of home duties. 



5o8 TJic Fifteenth Nci<.' HampsJiire I'o/tintccrs. 

could (luring the day. I will explain a little so you may understand 
better. Thursday evening, June 1 1 , ground was broken for an intrench- 
ment for a i2-gun battery several hundred yards in advance of our lines, 
and a large detail from our regiment worked in the trenches. As usual, 
cotton bales were rolled out and dirt thrown against them from the out- 
side, making a deep ditch. The work was not completed that night ; it 
takes about two nights to complete a work of this kind. About sunset, 
June 12,1 was ordered with fifteen men from the Fifteenth, to report to a 
lieutenant from the Sixth Michigan. The brigade was represented by 
sixty privates, one lieutenant, one sergeant, and two corporals. Just 
before dark we were assenil)led in the garden of a deserted plantation. 
We were discovered by the rebels and fired on, grape and canister being 
used, but no one was hurt. After dark we were informed of what we 
were to do. We were ordered some one hundred and fifty to two hun- 
dred yards in front of the i2-gun battery in course of construction, and 
to make ourselves rifle pits, four yards apart, and hold them. We were 
to resist any attempt of the rebels to make a sortie. We were told that 
we were to be relieved before daylight (as after daylight it could not be 
done, we were so near the enemy), but we were not relieved and had to 
stay there all day. It was terribly hot. the sun blazing down upon us, 
and with no water, for a drink o\ which one would almost forego his 
hope of heaven. To add to the horrors of the situation our i2-gun 
battery got into position and o])enedonthe rebel works. Every discharge 
would rattle dirt into our pits, and frec|uentl\- a jiiece of shell would make 
us a \isit. The rebels replied vigorouslv. but our guns would silence 
them after a while. 

" Shortly after noon a general lH)nil)ardment was oi^ened with all (if the 
artillery, gimboats and mortar boats taking a liand. It seemed as though 
pandemonium had broken loose. After the bombardment of perhaps an 
hour or more, a skirmish line from our l^iigade, some sixty men. were 
sent forward, and nearly all annihilated. Sergeant Wallace was mortally 
wounded. After the repulse of the skirmish line there was a truce, and 
coming out of my ritle pit 1 went up witli others and liad a talk with 
some of the rebels who came out with a flag of truce. Our Hag was a 
white handkerchief tied to the end of a ranudd. The truce lasted ai)out 
an hour, and we brought off our dead and wounded. 

" 1 was relieved that night at lo o'clock, or rather relieved myself, as 
no one came, and looking over the rifie pits found I was alone : no one 
could be seen. The detail from tlu- One Ilumlred and Twenty-eighth 
New York had not dug a |)it. and pmhaliiv had left soon after being 
posted. On thus relieving myself I hastened liack to where our camp was 



A nil}' Life at Port Hudson. 509 

supposed to be, but could find no one ; campinir down on tlie ground, 
hungry and thirsty, I soon forgot everything. I had been without sleep 
thirty-four hours. I was awakened at daylight by Sergeant Orme, who 
informed me that our regiment had moved some four miles to the left, and 
a charge would be made from that position. We hastened to join our 
company ; there was quite a squad from our company and regiment. We 
reached the place of rendevouz just before sunrise, and found the brigade 
drawn up in line, the Twenty-sixth Connecticut in front, but a change was 
made and our regiment led. It was just about sunrise when the order 
was given to charge. Lieutenant-colonel Blair in command. Colonel Clark 
of the Sixth Michigan commanding the brigade. We were met with a 
terrible fire of grape, canister and shell, and the rebel sharpshooters were 
putting in hot work. We met obstructions (ravines) but cleared one 
by a flank movement. The brigade pushed forward, the regiments in our 
rear suffering the most. Just before reaching the last ravine, which could 
not be crossed, I was wounded, as I have told you. I remained on the 
field nearly an hour, and made my way back to a place where there were 
nearly fifty others, some worse oiT than myself, and some whose wounds 
were slight. My wound was bandaged over the blouse, and cold water 
applied. I was taken to the division hospital, and the wound was 
dressed eight hours after it was done. Our doctor said I was very lucky, 
for a half an inch higher I would have lost my arm, if not mv life. I was 
sent to Springfield Landing, and from there to Baton Rouge, by boat, 
reaching here the same night about 8 o'clock. 

"Mary, Sergeant Wallace is dead. He was shot through the left lung. 
He was wounded in the skirmish Saturday, June 13, and died in the 
divi.sion hospital, Monday. He was alive when I left for Baton Rouge, and 
knew me. He thought he would get well, although the surgeon told him 
he could not live. I understand that he died somewhere about 3 o'clock 
in the afternoon. Those who were wounded in Company I were Lieu- 
tenant Wallingford, Joseph Brown, Jackson Shaw, John Blaisdell, and 
Joe Bamford ; none, with the exception of Lieutenant Wallingford, were 
badly wonnded. The colonel has been in to see me twice, and the rest 
of the boys. He was placed under arrest, on false charges ; he has 
demanded a court martial. John .ILihoney is here. The rest of the 
boys are in different hospitals in town. I understand that George Swain 
and Solomon Newland, of our company, cannot live. Newland is from 
Rochester. 

"June 25. I was not able to finish this the day I begun. My arm has 
pained me at times terribly ; it is some easier this morning. There is a 
report that the wounded nine months' men are to be sent home at once^ 



5IO 



The FiftccntJi Xcw Hampshire W^luiiteers. 



June 24, Wednesday 



batteries (: 



13, 24), are 




CAPT. BENJ. F. HALL — Co. K. 



Cloudy, and \ery hot. Our big 
about completed. Cleaning guns 
and prejiaring for regimental 
inspection, which comes off at 2 
o'clock in the afternoon. The 
rebels, who ha\'e been working 
on the citadel, raise their flag 
there to-day. Our fiag is raised 
on our battery this afternoon. 
It is expected that our great guns 
will open momentarily. The 
flags are within easy rifle shot 
of each other. The enemy 
shelled our sai)})ers and miners, 
but without effect. We are 
still intrenching, and apparently 
preparing for another assault. 



and if that Ls so I suppose I sliall be at home before a great while. 
There is still fighting at Port Hudson, and General Hanks feels confident 
of an early surrender. I have not been able to travel about any; walking 
jars my ami, and it still discharges a good deal. It is dressed every day 
and cold water applied ; that is the only remedy. My appetite is very 
good ; I can eat enough, and get enough to eat : we get good bread and 
butter at night with tea and milk, and as much as we want. I do not 
sleep very well nights, for my arm ])ains me more at night, Init I make up 
by day what I lose at night. Vou mustn't worry about me for I am doing 
nicely, and the doctor says the pain in my arm is a good sign that it is 
healing w^ell. You needn't answer this, for I don't think we shall be 
here when an answer from this comes, but 1 will write you every chance I 
get. My arm is paining me badly, and I must close. 1 ha\e just heard 
that the company that John belonged to was all cut to pieces : that all 
were killed, wounded, or taken jirisoners but twt), and he wasn't one of 
them. His regiment was cut up terriblv \du can tell his wife, or not, 
just as you think best. 1 hoiie the ne .s is not true. I nuist close now 
surely, with nuich love to you and Lewis, and hope to be with you before 
many weeks. 

Geokok." 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



511 



June 25, Thursday. \'er)- hot ; quite wind}- ; H^i^ht shower 
in the evening. Major Aldrich ill and i;()ne down to Lieu- 
tenant Hendley's (quartermaster) headquarters for rest. 
Inspection at 9 o'clock in the morning. No cannonading ; 
the sharpshooters fire some through the day, picket firing at 
night. The boys are pretty well worn out. Ca]:)tain Hall is 
officer of the day. Lieutenant Larkin is placed in command 
of Company 1^. Hard bread and coffee for supper. 








SERGT. MERRICK— Color Guard. 



CORP. McGregor— Color Guard. 



June 26, Friday. Pleasant morning ; two showers in the 
forenoon ; very hot. The batteries on our bluff are about to 
open ; they are immense affairs, and constructed with pro- 
digious labor. There are seventeen guns in No. 24 alone, 
mounted on platforms of hewn timber. These guns were 
drawn up the steep sides of the bluff, being slung under the 
axle of a pair of massy trucks that were twenty feet high, 
and hundreds of men pulling at the drag ropes. A part of 
them were from Farragut's fleet, and under the supervision 
of navy artillerists. There was an inspection in the fore- 



512 The Fifteenth Xci^< Hampshire I'olunteers. 

noon, and at 2.30 in the afternoon the whole rei;iinent was 
advanced over the open held into rifle j)ils in front of battery 
23, with two days rations and canteen of water. Picket 
firini;- and sharjishooting is resumed, and in the bottom of the 
trenches it is intensely hot and suffocating ; no one can show 
his head above. At 3 o'clock precisely the big batteries 
belch forth, all the guns being discharged at once, and the 
bombardment kept up in full force till 1 i o'clock at night. It 
was said to cost a hundred dollars every time one of these 
guns were fired. Almost at the very first the rebel flag 
dropped to the ground ; their men mounted then" parapet, 
and under the fire, and in plain sight, raised it again imme. 
diately. Three times during the afternoon it was shot down, 
but after this it was raised no more. The mighty bolts from 
our guns scream and roar across the great chasm, and plunge 
into the enem>'s works with tremendous force, throwing up 
great clouds of earth as they explode, and at 4 o'clock a maga- 
zine in their citadel blew^ up with a flash and power as though 
it would rend the globe. There were two 20-inch mortars at 
26. Their charge was well nigh a half bushel bag of powder, 
coarse as chestnut coal. A derrick stood beside of each to 
lift the ponderous bombs into their upturned mouths ; the 
great globes exploded high in the sky with a detonation that 
reverberated among the clouds and rivalled Jove's own 
thunders. Lay in the trenches all night. Major Aldrich is 
very sick and at Lieutenant Hendley's headquarters ; Ser- 
geant Spencer is sent to hospital ; Harvey D. Powers, Com- 
pany B, dies. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 5 1 3 

Report of Confederate Colonel Province, Slxteenth 
Arkansas Infantry. 

June 27, 1863. 
Gejieral : 

Yesterday morning works of the enemy were discovered aljout two 
hundred yards to my front, and some three hundred yards in advance of 
any of the neighboring worlds of the enem\'. I was iuial)le to compre- 
hend the design of tliese works. I therefore directed Lieut. -Col. 
[J. AI.] Pitman to send out a l)rave and cautious man to examine tliem. 
Accordingly, Private Aleires was sent out, who passed beyond the works 
to the right of them, so that he could get a view of them from the 
enemy's side. He reported the works connected with the woods by a 
deep ravine, and that they were occupied by some fifteen or twenty men. 
A short time before nightfall Colonel Pitman sent out Sergt. J. W. 
Parker, the result of whose reconnoissance was substantially the same as 
that of Private Meires. Feeling that I would not be able to post our 
pickets without the loss of life, or else discontinue pickets altogether, I 
determined to take the works and destroy them. I directed Colonel 
Pitman to call for thirty volunteers from the Sixteenth Arkansas for the 
execution of this order, and place them under a proper officer. Many of 
the men and large numbers of the officers volunteered. * * The 
whole were placed under the command of Lieut. A. G. McKennon. At 
nightfall they were placed outside of our works, at a point south and west 
of tlie enemy's works. At the same time a number of our men, at a 
point considerably to the left of Lieutenant McKennon, were di'-ected to 
make a noise and engage the enemy at the battery in conversation, with 
the view of directing attention from the point of approach. This was 
done, and a lively and noisy conversation ensued. While this was going 
on Lieutenant McKennon approached to within about thirty yards of the 
enemy's works, when he gave the order to charge. In an instant the 
work was in our possession. The enemy fired but once and then at great 
elevation. After the works were in our possession, the men, with the 
assistance of others from the regiment, tore down the works and scattered 
the sand bags, bringing many of them into camp. Besides destroying 
the works, seven prisoners were taken and several were killed and 
wounded. We had only one man hurt, who was knocked down by one 
of the enemy as he was leaping into the works. Some twelve or fourteen 
guns were also brought in. 

We finally posted our pickets, and were only annoyed during the night 
by occasional volleys fired from the woods. 

Respectfully, etc., 

D. Province, 
[Brigadier-General Beall.] Colonel Commanding. 

33 



514 The Fifteenth Xew HanipsJiirc ]\-»lnnteers. 

An incident of the night of June 26, 1863, as related by 
Capt. A. G. McKennon, in the spring of 1889, for pubHca- 
tion in the History of the Fifteenth New Hampshire \^olun- 
teers. Captain McKennon was first lieutenant Company K, 
Sixteenth Arkansas : 

" The Confederate forces at Port Hudson were commanded 
by Major-Gen. Frank Gardner, who, I understand, was a 
classmate of Gen. N. P. Banks, commanding the Union 
forces. At any rate they served together in the Federal 
army before the war, and were warm friends. General Beall 
was in command of the brigade of which the Si.xteenth 
Arkansas infantry was a part. The regiment was com- 
manded by Col. David Province, formerly of South Carolina, 
with Ben Pixlee as lieutenant-colonel, and L. N. C. Swagerty 
as major. During the siege Colonel Province commanded on 
the right as brigadier general, which left Colonel Pixlee in 
command of the regiment. This regiment was at first 
stationed on the right of the sally-port and road leading to 
Avhat was known as the 'slaughterhouse,' and some quarter 
or half a mile southeast of the road leading to Clinton. 

"There had been a light engagement a few miles out from 
I'ort Hudson at a place called Cross Plains, the P^ederal army 
then advancing in force against the place, which it immedi- 
ately invested, throwing its lines around us from a point 
where our breastworks touched the river above or northwest 
of the town to where they connected with the river below, a 
distance of some three miles. We had earthworks thrown 
up from a ditch on the outside about four feet deep, making 
the works about four feet high. 

" The first general engagement was on the twenty-seventh 
of May, 1863, and lasted nearly all day. The Confederates 
succeeded in repulsing the Union forces at all points. Having 
advantage of the works the Confederate loss was nominal, 



Ai-niy Life at Port Hudson. 5 i 5 

while that of the Union forces was heavy. After this 
engagement General Banks got in position all his field pieces 
around our lines, and soon knocked down every gun we had, 
so that we had thereafter no artillery except on the river. 
Almost continual fire was kept up along the lines from this 
time on, until the surrender on the ninth day of July. 

" On the fourteenth of March the Federal fleet below 
undertook to run by us, and our batteries on the river were 
used to good effect, so disabling one of the vessels that she 
was abandoned. After floating down the river, near Baton 
Rouge, her magazine exploded, doing, as we understood, great 
damage to property in that city. 

" In addition to the artillery on land, there was a fleet 
above and below us. Their land batteries fired on us both 
day and night. The guns from the fleets usually played 
on us in the evening, and those of our soldiers who slept at 
all went to sleep under fire of the fleets and the land bat- 
teries. The lighted fuses of the shells thrown from the 
mortars on the gunboats could be seen far above us in the 
air, frequently a number of them at a time, and could be 
seen descending apparently immediately above us, but we 
became so much accustomed to this that we paid no attention 
to them. They seldom did any damage or injured any one. 
The boys, when lying down on the ground (for they had 
nothing else upon which to lie), would laugh and joke about 
them, and threaten to kick them into the river as they came 
down. 

" The fourteenth of June came on Sunday, and we were 
aware that the Federals were preparing to make a general 
assault upon us. Through the night we could hear them 
moving, and occasionally hear the voice of some one speaking 
as if addressing the troops, and in the morning, at daylight, thev 
made a general charge which lasted for several hours. W'e 
succeeded in repulsing them again, with an exceedingly heavy 



5i6 The l-'iftccnth Xcxv Havipshirc Vo/imtcci's. 

loss. Gen. Halbert K. Payne, now a resident of \\'ashin;.;t()n, 
was wounded just to my left, and remained there all day in 
the hot sun. Several detachments from his command made 
efforts to take him from the field, but were shot down by the 
Confederates, they coming without any truce. 

" On the evening before the battle, Colonel Pixlee and I 
had gone back toward the town to get something to eat, and 
as we returned the artillery commenced firing. We dodged 
behind trees, and were quite merry. After the firing ceased 
we started on again, it being now quite dark, he having to go 
to the right of the regiment and I to the left. After we had 
separated and gone some distance he called to me to come 
back. He took me by the hand and told me that we were 
going to have a hard fight in the morning, and that he felt 
like I would never see him again, and that he would be killed. 
About 9 o'clock the next morning, Lieut. George J. Crump 
came down the line and informed me that Colonel Pixlee had 
been shot in the head and killed. No officer more gallant 
than he e\er commanded a brave soldiery. 

" In order to jM'otect f)urselves from the P>deral artiller)- we 
dug holes in the ground, over which we placed timbers and 
threw dirt o\er them. When the fire was hot we went into 
these holes, and those who slept, slept in them. 

"There was a battery (14, Captain Holcomb) just in 
front to our left, some three hundred yards out. It was 
composed of some six jMCces of \ery fine rifle guns. He 
had his orders to fire e\ery half-hour. I^'rec|uentl\- our 
boys would get into con\-ersation with his men. and get on 
top of the works to talk to them. When it came liis time to 
shoot he would halloo to us : ' Get down now ; 1 am going to 
shoot.' He gave us time to get into our holes before he fired. 
One evening he proposed to meet an officer of his rank from 
our command, lialf-\va\- between his works and ours, on the 
Clinton road. We told liim we would submit the matter on 



Annj Life at Port Hudson. 517 

the next day to our superiors, and see him the next evening. 
General Gardner ordered that I should go out and meet him 
and exchange newspapers with him. Some one called and 
told him that I would meet him, and he said, ' All right, come 
on.' So we proceeded to meet each other between his senti- 
nels and ours. I asked him about the paper, and he said he 
had forgotten it, but would go back and get it. He took off 
his hat and canteen, which contained something stronger 
than water, threw them down, and said, ' Here, you keep 
these ; I will return directly.' I told him to take his hat and 
canteen, and that I did not want any pledge or security from 
an honorable and brave officer like J knew him to be. He 
went and soon returned with a number of papers and a box 
of cigars. We spent the evening and until a late hour in the 
night in pleasant conversation, consulting occasionally the 
canteen and cigar box. He invited me to take dinner with 
him after the surrender, which I made promise to do in such 
manner as to indicate that I thought the dinner would be 
far in the future. After the surrender he hunted me up and 
I took dinner with him. I had had but little to eat for some 
time, and was in a condition to enjoy his dinner. We had 
already devoured our horses and mules, and had but little 
else upon which to subsist. 

" In the engagement on the twenty-seventh of May, a regi- 
ment of Zouaves, I think from New York, was engaged with 
us immediately in our front, with other troops. We repulsed 
three lines that were brought against us. The Zouaves 
coming with the first, remained on the field to do battle with 
each of these lines, and came within a short distance of our 
works. At one time our gallant commander ordered us to 
cease firing on account of their gallant conduct, but when we 
ceased firing they came again, and we had to resume in order 
to keep them from entering our works. Our boys were 
filled with admiration for them, and souiiht them out on the 



5i8 The Fifteenth Xetv Hampshire \\Tlunteers. 

field and gave them water. Several were brought inside and 
cared for at our hospital. After the surrender they asked 
permission of General Banks to guard our regiment, which he 
granted. There were left of the six hundred that went into the 
fight, eighty-two as brave men as ever fought in battle. They 
threw their lines about us and would not permit the colored 
troops, who were very insulting, to come near us ; and pro- 
ceeded to cook for and feed our boys, who were very hungry. 
Colonel Province addressed a note to the commander compli- 
menting them for their courage, and for their kindness to us. 
This note was published in the Northern papers and there 
commented upon as an evidence of the feeling of the gallant 
soldiers who were fighting at the front. 

"At several places the P'ederals had succeeded in advanc- 
ing to the outer edge of our ditch, just outside of the works, 
by throwing up sand sacks during the night and adxancing 
them as far as they safely could each night. When near 
our works they began to undermine, with a view of blowing 
us up. Besides this peril to which we were subjected, they 
had hand grenades which they threw among the Confed- 
erates, and everyone who exposed himself during the day 
was fired upon. We had succeeded in keeping them from 
our regiment, until finally, one morning, we obserxcd just 
about one lumdrcd xards in front of us breastworks erected, 
about one hundred yards in length. This was at the head of 
a ravine making off toward our works from a large ravine 
running parallel with us (see maj:) in front of batter}- iS). 
Colonel Province sent for me, and I suggested that he call for 
volunteers to destroy those works, which he did. 

" Lieut. II. Blackard, now a resident of Clarks\ille, Ark., 
went out near tlie woi^ks, crawling among the weeds and 
briars, and on returning to us rcjiortcd tlic number occupying 
the works to be, I tlunk, al)out si\l\-, with a lieavy reserve in 
the main ravine back, sup])orting them. 



Army Life at Port Hudsoii. 5 19 

"Thirty-one officers and men responded to the call, among 
whom was Capt. Daniel Boone, who had a few days before 
been wounded in the arm, and still held it in a sling. When 
they were assembled Colonel Province ordered Boone to his 
company. He replied that he had no man in his company 
who would obey the call, and he proposed to go himself. 
Colonel Province then addressed him saying, ' Captain Boone, 
you have never disobeyed my orders. You will not do so 
now. I command you to return to your company.' Boone, 
after a few moments of thought, sullenly obeyed. My gal- 
lant little brother-in-law, Willie Berry, who was afterwards 
killed in Arkansas, was a volunteer and went with us. 
Colonel Province ordered me to take command of the detach- 
ment. I requested him to confer the command upon some one 
else, as there were several officers who ranked me, which he 
refused to do. I then tendered the command to each of the 
ranking officers, who declined. 

" I instructed every alternate man to fire as we charged, 
and the others to hold their fire for a hand to hand conflict 
inside the works. Our men on the left got up a noisy 
conversation with Captain Holcomb's battery, which engaged 
the attention of our enemies, and we went down to our right 
and crossed and quietly moved up until we got within twenty 
yards and in front of the enemy's works, when I gave the 
command to charge. We were almost instantly over their 
works and firing upon them. A few shots in the air from 
their guns was all the show of resistance made, except that 
one soldier clubbed his gun and knocked one of my men from 
the works. The others, and the reser\-e, retreated hastily 
through the blockade back of them, and onto then- main line 
some two hundred yards back. 

" In the charge I got my shoulder rather painfully injured. 
Inside the works we captured several prisoners, and cut 
the sacks to pieces, emptied the sand, and piled them up. 
We gathered up the arms, and after searching the brush 



520 The Fifteenth Xciv Havipshire ]\>//niteers. 

heaps and capturing several others, we took up the sacks, 
guns, and prisoners, and retired within our works. 

" About this time the battery learned of our charge uix)n 
their works and the retreat of their men, and commenced 
firing in the direction of where the works had been. The 
l^'cderal loss, as I now remember it, was se\cn killed and 
a number wounded. 

" I was ordered by Colonel Province to take the prisoners 
to General Gardner's headquarters, which I did. He was 
very angry for a time and threatened to ' cashier ' me and 
disgrace me m the presence of my regiment, for going outside 
and attacking the enemy ; but on learning that I had lost no 
men, and that only one other beside myself was at all 
injured, and that we had killed several and captured a num- 
ber of prisoners, he became reconciled, and assured me that I 
would be rewarded ; and the next morning he issued an order 
complimenting me, which was read to the troops arouud the 
works, and I was furnished a co])}'." 

June 27, Saturday. \'er}- heavy dew last night, and dense 
fog this morning from the ri\'er. Bombarding slackened at 
I 1 o'clock, and continued slowl}' tlie rest of the night, but 
it was renewed at daylight and replied to by the rebel citadel. 
At 2 o'clock in the morning were routed for breakfast of 
boiled salt beef and coffee and hard bread. A jiart of the 
rebel parapet is demolished, and one of their big guns toppled 
over. Regiment remains in the rifle pits. Two men were 
wounded in our battery to-da)', and nineteen deserters came 
into our lines. Tlie sliarjisliooters and picket firing is brisk 
all tlay. 

Major y\ldrich is still sick at Lieutenant Ilen(lle\'s head- 
quarters. 

June 28, .Sunday. \'ery hot day. l^ombanling and sharp- 
shooting goes on witliout remission. At 5 o'clock in the 
morning tliere was a hot engagement between the big 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 521 

batteries that top the two bluffs. The regiment still lies in 
the same trench. Companies A, C and H were sent out 
sharpshooting last night, and came in to-night. Lieutenant 
Parker, with a heavy detail, dug all night at the extreme left. 
Sergeant Stevens, Company K, in charge of fifty men, is 
detailed for fatigue, and worked through the night till 4 o'clock 
in the morning on the zigzag sunken road close to the water, 
that is advancing across the bottom of the valley to the foot 
of the enemy's bluff. The enemy tried to shell them out, 
but could not as they had no mortars. 

Major Aldrich is still sick at Lieutenant llendley's. A 
Lieutenant Jackson, of a Maine regiment, was shot through 
the thigh in the trench just to our left. 

June 29, Monday. Bright da}' ; very hot and dr)'. The 
following order was issued : 

Headquarters Fifteenth Regiment N. H. Vols., 

Before Port Hudson, June 29, 1863. 
(Nine clays before the cessation of hostilities.) 
Special Orders, \ 
No. 36. \ 

In accordance with orders from (General lianks, the following men are 
hereby detailed to report for duty to the assistant adjutant-general at 
Headquarters Department of the Ckilf: 

Corp. Collins AI. Hanson, Company K. 
Priv. Charles F. Harrington, Company K. 
Priv. E. P. Banks, Company K. 
Priv. Erastus Smith, Company K. 
Priv. John C. McArthur, Company K. 
Priv. Henry Butterfield, Company E. 
Priv. Ellexis Alarcotte, Company E. 
Priv. Thomas W. McDonald, Company H. 
Priv. J. P. Young, Company A. 

By order of 

Lieutenant-colonel Blair, 

Co»i)iia)tding Fifteenth N. H. Vols. 

E. E. PiNKHA.M, 

Adjutant. 



522 The Fifteenth New Hampshire \^oluiiteers. 

There was a night alarm at the old camp, and all the sick 
were turned out to man the parapet. Lieutenant Moore, 
Company I, was in command, he being the only commissioned 
officer there. All the sick there are examined by the 
surgeons, and every one that is able is sent to the front. 
Elliott, Blake and Cross, Company G, are sent up. The 
regiment still lies in the trenches. Many are sick and 
wounded now, and Sergts. ]. ]. Burley and Philbrook, Com- 
pany H, and many other sergeants, are on duty constantly. 
The usual bombarding and sharpshooting goes on through 
the day. At sunset there was very heavy firing both by our 
batteries and small arms. Our sappers and miners have 
approached to within twenty feet of the enemy's parapet in 
two places. At 8 o'clock in the evening a bold attempt was 
made by a detachment of the Sixth Michigan to get posses- 
sion of the citadel, where our sap approached. Hand grenades 
were first thrown over, and then a small party of about forty 
made a dash over and into the enemy's works, taking them 
completely by surprise. They found themsehcs in a ditch, 
following which they met a rebel captain with his relief, whom 
they grabbed, and one private, and rushed them over the 
works into our lines. Two of this party were killed and eight 
or ten wounded. Lieutenant Pickering, of Company A, 
retiu'ns to duty. 

June 30, Tuesday. A very hot day. The regiment 
remains in the same trench ; it was inspected in the trenches 
and mustered for pay by Lieutenant-colonel Hlair ; four 

XoTK. In Lieutc-nant Perkins's IcttiT of June i8. ])auc 500. lie says: 
" The I ondonderry hoys are all comfortable." It is interestinij; to notice 
what is considered "comfortable" in actual service at such a time and 
place a.s this. Of the eight Londonderry boys who embarked for Port 
Hud.son, Morrison was killed May 27 ; Sanborn was mortally wounded 
May 27, and died June 2 ; Pond was sent to hospital, and died June 20 ; 
Webster was very severely wounded May 27 : Moore was wounded June 
14; Coburn was wounded .Mav 27; Perkins himself slightly wounded 
June 14, thus leaving only one, McGregor, who had escaped scathe so far. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 523 

months' pay are now due. Major Aldrich is still very ill ; 
he rode up to the regiment to-day and found them in the 
trenches ; he then returned to Lieutenant Hendley's very 
much exhausted. At sunset a part of the regiment was 
ordered out and raised the breastworks along the sunken 
zigzag road in low places, by piling upon them bundles of 
brush so that passing troops would be concealed from the 
enemy's view. They were engaged in this work for two 
hours, when the regiment was called on line and marched to 
a point near the river and formed for a charge on the citadel, 
the design being to climb the steep and almost perpendicular 
ascent directly at the water front. Steps had been cut in the 
face to facilitate the ascent. It was midnight when the 
position was reached. The regiment was standing in column 
of fours, and left in front, which brought Corporal Edwards, 
and Privates Pressey and Osa D. Nichols, Company K, to be 
the first men to encounter the enemy as they should mount 
their works. The head of the column was just at the tunnel's 
mouth and within twenty-five feet of the enemy, and the line 
stretched back down the slope into the deep bottom below. 
Lieutenant-colonel Blair placed himself at their head, Lieu- 
tenant Larkin by his side, and with a rebel deserter for a 
guide, who had volunteered to lead them in. Blair, thinking if 
the guide was a true man, that it was a great pity he should 
be wholly defenseless, had given him his sword, but fearing 
treachery, had drawn his revolver, wliich he carried in his 
left hand, — the right arm being still in its sling, — and 
informed the guide of his doubts, and said to him, "On the 
least sign of treachery I shall shoot you down in an instant." 
The guide seemed to have a very serious realization of his 
position. And now all waited in the darkness and in breath- 
less silence for the order to scale the mighty and frowning 
ramparts which crested the bluffs. But there seemed to 
be some unusual delay, and after nearly an hour had elapsed 
a staff officer dashed up on the keen gallop and inquired 



524 



TJic Fifteenth Xei^' Havipshire I'o/iiiiteos. 



who was in command there. He was referred to Colonel 
Blair. The order for the assault was countermanded by 
General Banks. In the morning, at 6 o'clock, the regiment 
returned to its bivouac in the ravine, — having stood to their 
arms all night — excepting Company K, which remained there 
on duty as sharpshooters to protect the sappers, who now 
having reached the front of the enemy's parapet, were tunnel- 
ing beneath it to lay a mine of powder. 

James H. D. Blaisdell, Company H, dies of his wounds. 



Report 



Sick and Wounded. 



Officens. 



Ma\- 31 II 

June 10 I 13 

June 20 19 

June 30 20 




Note. O. P. Lyles commands the citadel. The enemy's official account 
of the dash of the Sixth Micliiiian l)()vs into their citadel: 



Miijor : I'oKT HiDSON, June 30, 1863. 

I said to vou that tlie enemy charnetl me on the extreme riijht. So he 
did, and a few of Iiis men <;()l into my trenches. 1 killed six in my 
trenches, and as to the number outside killed and wounded I do not 
know, l)ut ills loss must be considerable. It was rather a small business. 
as usual (I mean his charge). He took one captain and three of my men 
out of my trenches, and killed one. making- ni\- loss tivc in tiie a<inregate. 
I repulsed him very handsomely, and ail is now (|uiel. 1 can repulse iiim 
every time, and will do it. Duriui; the skirmisii I discovered he was 
marching a large force toward (ieneral iieall's line, and hence the .sugges- 
tion to watcli in that (Hrection. * * * 

I am, .Major, very respectfully, etc., 

O. P. LVLES, 

Colonel Connnandivg right wing. 

.MaJOK T. V. WiLSO.N, 

./. ./. General . 





Aj 


inj Life 


at Port Hudson. 


525 






Present for Duty. 






Field. 


Captains. 


First 
Lieutenants. 


Second 
Lieutenants. 


Enlisted 
men. 


May 31 ... 


2 


6 


5 


6 


460 


June 10 


2 


5 


5 


5 


387 


June 20 


2 


4 


4 


380 


June 30 


I 


I 4 

i 


4 


361 



Among the enlisted men are reckoned the musicians, 
wagoners, cooks, etc., so that the actual combatants would 
average about fifty less than the figures given above. 



Ammunition Account. 



June 16 — Company C, 1,000 

Company F, 50 

Company I, 500 

Company E, 450 

June 17 — Company A, 200 

Company F, 50 

Company D, 350 

Company I, 60 

Company G, 70 

Company E, 510 

June 18 — Company F, 100 

Company A, 90 

June 22 — Company F, 290 

Company A, 40 

June 24 — Company I, 290 

Company I, 30 

Company A, 230 

Company G, 1.040 

Company E, 100 



"ounds. 



526 The Fiftccnt/i Xcic Hampshire WUujiteers. 

Muster Roll of Capt. Jacob B. Saxhorn, Company H, 
Fifteenth N. H. Vols. 

June 30, 1863. 

Capt. J. B. Sanborn, sick in regimental h(jspital. 
First Lieut. A. B. Seavey. 
Second Lieut. W. Perkins. 
First Sergt. T. G. Ames. 
Sergt. H. B. Philbrook. 
J. J. Burley. 
A. B. Nye. 
W. H. Philbrook. 
Corp. J. C. Coombs, absent sick. 

J. L. Hubbard, absent sick. 

C. C. Clark, detailed as mail carrier. 

W. S. Maloon, absent sick. 

J. U. Blake. 

C. McGregor. 

T. Philbrook. 
Musician B. J. Baker. 

A. J. Sanborn. 
Wagonei M. A. Northrop, detailed. 
Priv. A. P. Alexander. 

J. M. l^i.xby. 

H. A. Burley, absent sick. 

Thos. Brown. 

L. Y . Brainerd, absent sick. 

C. W. Buzzell. 

E. A. Carpenter, sick in regimental hospital. 

D. \V. Cross. 
\V. I. Coburn. 
L W. Coombs. 

C. R. Clark, absent sick. 
T. W. Donald. 



A nny L ifc at Port Hudson . 527 

Priv. George Dawson. 

M. E. Eastman, sick in regimental hospital. 

Robert Finel. 

A. Goodwin. 

H. D. Gregg. 

A. M. Gordon, detailed. 

D. S. Gilman, absent sick. 

D. Griffin. 

P. Hyde. 

J. Hicks. 

J. A. Hines, detailed. 

M. N. Holmes, detailed. 

W. F. Holmes. 

S. H. Jacobs, absent sick. 

S. Keniston, absent sick. 

N. A. Kendall. 

C. Lawrence, absent sick. 
M. L. Moore. 

H. McGiiire. 

A. McDaniels, absent sick. 
J. Perkins, absent sick. 
W. J. Pond, absent sick. 

D. M. Philbrook. 

M. H. Rollins, absent sick. 

J. Runnells, absent sick. 

W. H. Smith. 

H. P. Swain, absent sick. 

S. T. Swain, absent sick. 

H. P. Sanborn. 

J. S. Sanborn, wounded mortally May 27, 1863 ; 

absent sick. 
J. Y. Sanborn. 

E. Sanborn. 

]. ]. Shaw, absent sick. 



528 The Fifteenth Xei^.' Hampshire \'oln)iteers. 

Vx'w. H. Sweat, absent sick. 
J. A. Templcton. 
H. H. Thornton, absent sick. 
J. S. Walker. 
H. Webster, absent sick. 
D. W. Welton, absent sick. 
J. Wiggin, cook. 

George F. Bowers, died May 9, 1863. 
C. H. Sanborn, died May 25, 1863. 
J. G. Morrison, died May 27, 1863. 
Noah Chattlc, died May 27, 1863. 
J. H. D. Blesdell, died May 28, 1863. 
J. H. Sanborn, died June 2, 1863. 
George W. Webster, died June 3, 1863. 
WilHam Fife, died June 5, 1863. 

Corp. J. E. Preston, discharged May 11, 1863. 
General Dow was captured at 9 o'clock in the evening of 
June 30. 

The Banks' campaign, preliminary to the investment of 
Port Hudson, through the rich Tesche countr}- to the mouth 
of the Red river and descent on Bayou Sara, having pre- 
viously cleared the country of all the disloyal, and dispersed 
all organized foes, both na\al and military, so as to Icaxc him 
now free to act against the beleagured stronghold, was bril- 
liant and successful as any of the campaigns of Napoleon. 
It reflected great credit on both the general and his army, 
but in that distant place and during those stirring times of 
alarm and war and blood, rccei\ed n(; adequate notice from 

Note. Enlisted men for duty June 30 : Company A, 38 : H, 29 ; C, 
40; D, 38; K, 39: F, ii\ (;, 21 : M, 32 : I. 34: K, 57. Total, 361. 
In these reports from the adjutant's hooks musicians, teamsters, and 
cooks are not counted, l)Ul t)nly tlK)se Ijearing arms. This will accovuU 
for the discrepancy in tlie Company D report, pages 417 and 419, the 
report of page 417 being derived from diaries and including the cooks, etc. 



A any Life at Port Hudson. 529 

the world at large, nor has the world yet turned to \iew 
those great and decisive achievements. But at Port Hudson 
it must be thought that he should have been more patient of 
events ; that he miscalculated the spirit of the foe, and the 
impregnability of their position ; he was too confident of 
success ; he did not hold his subordinate generals in hand so 
as to act with concert and harmony ; that he rashly and 
repeatedly rushed his men upon the enemy's works thereby 
suffering great loss without inflicting commensurate injury 
on the foe. Grant, however, and many other great generals, 
in this respect were equally at fault. Gardner was a trained 
and experienced soldier ; he had been educated for his 
profession at the charge of the very government which 
now he raised his bloody hand to destroy. He was vigilant ; 
he was tireless ; his ofificers were true to him and loyal 
as his own right arm. At whatever hour or point he was 
attacked, there he was strongest. The verdict of history 
must be that Banks was vastly outgeneralled by Gardner. 
Who would meet a Hannibal, must pursue a waiting policy. 
Much has been said as to whether the surrender was enforced 
or whether it was due to the fall of Vicksburg, but all the 
negotiations were based on the fact of the fall of that strong- 
hold, rendering it utterly futile to hold this longer. Yet, if 
Banks had held his cordon drawn tightly round, and refrained 
from further disastrous assaults, the place must soon have 
yielded. But even one more bloody assault like that of May 
27, or June 14, would have reduced Banks to the extremity of 
abandoning the siege ; and for this very assault Banks was 
pushing his preparations, led thereto by circumstances which 
seemed to him warrantable and even imperative, that he 
should now risk all and either succeed or disastrously fail. His 
army was reduced by disease and wounds and overwork ; the 
terms of many were about to expire ; the enemy in front 
were seemingly as strong and vigilant as ever, and they were 

34 



530 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire W^lunteers. 

gathering great force and becoming \-ery active, blockading 
the river and his base of supply in the rear, and seriously 
threatening New Orleans and the recovery of all that had 
been won since the passage of Jackson and Saint Philip 
by Farragut in April of the year before. 

July I, Wednesday. A da}' of terrible heat. And now 
that the regiment, and all others also, is greatly reduced 
numerically, by detail and disease and wounds and death, so 
that scarcely a third of the full number are on active duty 
in the actual presence and face of the ever vigilant and 
enterprising enemy, the duty that falls on the remaining few 
is very severe, and becomes more and more so, and rapidl)' 
increases in peril as our lines approach the enemy's parapet. 
Our regiment cheerfully bears the brunt of all and occupies 
the hazardous post of honor, it being considered nothing 
more than fair that they should perform all possible duty 
during the remaining few days of the term, and so save the 
longer term regiments for future service, l^ut the enemy 
outside now becoming so formidable and acti\e, all are 
strained to their utmost tension, for the place must fall soon 
or the enemy below will re-capture New Orleans and the river, 
which would mean defeat and irretrievable disaster. 

The sunken, zigzag road is carried across the low, wide 
mouth of the \alley between our great battery and the 
enemy's " Malakoff." It was commenced right at the 
water's edge and almost the first shovels struck a skeleton, 
long reposing there, which ma}- have been that of De Soto 
or some grand sachem of the aboriginal Americans. It 
continued till it struck the upright bank beyond, then a huge 
headless hogshead, stuffed with fascines, was rolled ahead, 
and a ditch carried uji the steep incline till it reached the 
mighty ramparts that crested those heights. At this perilous 
proximity and post of vital responsibility, our regiment serves 
now and to the end. It is reduced to a small band of 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 531 

bronzed, unfailing, and never flinching few. A tunnel is 
begun which penetrates the foot of the parapet till it reaches 
the centre, where it branches right and left, and following its 
dark and subterranean course beneath, eventually extends 
across the entire front of the enem)-'s massive works, and 
turns the angles on either hand. It is of the calibre of a 
yard, and the nature of the ujiheawd alluvial such that when 
done it is smooth and round as though bored with a giant 
auger. The old and skilled California miner, Lowell S. 
Hartshorn, had the work in charge, five or si.x negroes under 
him removing the earth which at the tunnel's mouth was 
thrown by shovellers onto a platform that has been con- 
structed on the very face of the enemy's jmrapet, and thence 
again pitched by other shovellers on this platform, right up 
and over into the enemy's works ; a stone could be thrown 
from this platform into the river. Hartshorn enjoyed his 
work immensely, and applied himself with the skill and dili- 
gence of a beaver. " I'll coyote right in there," he was 
heard to exclaim, and night and day pushed on and on, 
although it was understood that the enemy within were 
countermining to meet him and drop at any unexpected 

Note. Reminiscence of Eigluli Corp. C. A. Young, Company A : 
" Was sent out as lieutenant with a detail of twenty-four men for twentv- 
four hours, at midnight of the twenty-ninth of June, onto the l)rink of 
the bluflf where the water was right under us. We crossed the k)w land 
by dodging from one cotton bale to another. We deepened the trench in 
which we lay. At about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of July i , when the sun 
got round, it became so hot that we could not bear our hands on the ground, 
and the men began to drop from the heat. I called for volunteers to go 
for shade and water, but none started. We liad stumbled over several 
dead when coming in, wlio had been shot in trying to cross. I finally 
ordered them to fire briskly, and during their fire ran across some ten or 
fifteen rods to a trench where there were some troops. I got two blankets, 
five or si.x canteens of water, and some whiskey, and returned with them. 
W'e fixed up the blankets in gun locks for shade, and placed Lorrain 
Shannon, Alonzo Taylor, and Collins under them. Had to prv open 
Taylor's mouth to give him whiskey." 



532 The Fifteenth XeiK.' HanipsJiire ]\^Iuiitcers. 

moment on his dexotecl head. One or more riflemen are 
constant!}' on this platform, and all the saps and trenches 
lined with them side by side around the entire lines, with 
their rifles cocked and sighted on the enemy's works. The 
enemy, for the most i)art, behind their ])ara])ets lie low and 
silent, but occasionally get a shot at some of our men, 
although generally at the cost of their own lives, and to-day 
John O. Langley, becoming a little too venturesome, was 
thus shot and instantly killed. But every day men are 
being killed and wounded. The artillery fire goes on between 
our great batteries without interruption, and from the 
"Essex" and "Richmond," some of whose shells explode 
over our own heads, and mortar boats, as also from powerful 
batteries which ha\e been planted across the river ; our 
land batteries in the rear send some of their shots entirely 

NOTK. It is said to cost the movernnient $ioo every time one of our 
big guns is tiied. Among tliem, at our battery (24). are two 20-inch 
mortars. They hang in their massive carriages on their trunnions in a 
nearly upright position like immense pots. A derrick stands by each to 
hoist in the ponderous iron globes whicli weigh several hundred pounds 
eacli. A l)ag of powder, of a peck or more, as coarse as pea coal, is' 
used for a charge. Wlien tlie lanyard is pulled, with a deafening roar, 
from the midst of flames and smcike the great shell rises into the air. and 
can be followed by the eye till its explosion, high over the enemy's works. 

Note. Pokt Hidsox. La., July 1, 1863. 

Majo)- : 

I am unable as yet to check the enemy in his march with his trenches, 
lam of the opinion that he will reach my trenches to-night. He has 
shelled my troops at the extreme right very much to-ilay. with the view, 1 
think, of trying to demoralize them so as to storm my ritie pit to-night. 
He has almost ruined my rifle ]jit with his artillery. 1 am wide awake. 
Resijeclfully, etc., 

O. P. LVLKS, 

Colonel commanding f'igl't wing. 
Major T. F. Wn.sox, 

.Issistant . Itijutant-ih-ncyal. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 533 

over the beleagured district into the water, where they skip 
on the surface Hke things of play. There was quite active 
firing of small arms just as the day closed, to which the 
enemy replied with unusual spirit. Company F is stationed at 
the mouth of the pit, and Captain Gordon is here on duty 
except when off for sleep and rest, but the sergeants can- 
not be spared, and are here almost constantly, in many 
instances acting as lieutenants, and many corporals are doing 
sergeants' duty. Edwards, Company K, is near the mine 
with fifteen men, who suffer terribly from the excessive heat, 
and three of them are sunstruck. The enemy thiew many 
hand grenades, which were small shells affixed to a stick, 
over their parapet, by one of which Hanson H. Young 
received a blow. They also rolled great bombs down the hill, 
having first lighted the fuse, but without doing serious injury, 
and it was found that they had planted round their works, just 
outside, many of our shells which fell among them but failed 
of explosion, and connected their fuses with wires strung in 
the grass, which our men tripping upon should set off to their 
own destructicMi. 

July 2, Thursday. Excessively hot. Some of the bombs 
rolled down by the enemy lodged against the hogshead at the 
head of the trench, and then exploded. The trench on the 
right side was piled with sand bags, and also the platform was 
so protected on its flanks. As the enemy could not, at the 
citadel, depress the ponderous artillery there mounted so as 
to fire upon oiu" men directly beneath, they devised a means 
of shelling them by balancing a long gutter of planks oxer 
the parapet, into the end of which they could j:)lace a 
lighted bomb, then lifting their end cause it to roll out and 
down amongst them. This gutter was directly over the 
platform, and was disco\ered in the morning when a shell 
came through and immediateh' exploded, as though to oix-n 
the day with unwonted ardor and spirit. None on the plat- 



536 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire Volunteers. 

NOTI-:. Letter from Lieutenant Perkins: 

" Befokk Port Hudson, July 2, 1863. 
Dearest Wife: 

•• 1 have just received tliree letters from you, eighth, twelfth, and 
fifteenth, with Lucy's and ^L^ry Ann"s two Independents, and two child's 
papers. We liave received no mail for some time, and it came like bread 
to a starving soul. We ha\en"t taken Port Hudson yet, and I don"t know 
as we ever shall, hut we are bound to stick to it until it is taken or we are 
driven awav. We are living in ditches or rifle pits; we stay in them all 
the time, night and day, and have our rations brought to us. Our station 
is on the extreme left, riglit on the bank of the river. I am now sitting 
in a ditch witliin a few feet of the water. We are running a sap up into 
the citadel, wliicli is on a high bluflf; it is dug wide enough to nm up 
artillery, and we are now within a few feet of their works. The rebs pelt 
us witli clods of dirt, and roll shells down on us, ])ut not one of them dares 
show his head above the breastwork. Our sharpshooters are on the watch 
like cats: there is a continued tiring most of the time of cannon, nu)rtars, 
and muskets, and while I am writing it is nothing but bang, crash, pop, 
whiz. There are l)ut i^cw men killed or wounded : we have lost in the 
regiment but six or seven since the charge on the fourteenth. Pond died 
of sickness at ISaton Rouge — three of ovu" little s(|uad gone. The 
accounts of the charge of the twenty-seventh, which we have received in 
the New York papers are gross misrepresentations, and are false in almost 
everv particular. Our regiment has been abused, tor I know that no regi- 
ment in our brigade has done betti-r than ours, and 1 l;uoiu. too, that men 
of Comijanv H went as near the rebel parajjct as any one did in tlte brigade. 
1 will explain to vou. if 1 get home, how these stories arc put in circula- 
tion. I have no clothes here but what 1 have on, which are shirt, pants, 
blouse, caji, and boots. I am as (lirt\- as 1 ever was digging potatoes. 
We have got the ground itch, and are all lousy. Our chief recreation is 
eating hardtack, scratching, and hunting lice. I have slept on the grounil 
without any covering ever since we left Carn)llton. This is the anniver- 
sary of our wedding day. What a contrast between this and thirteen 
years ago I The guerrillas are getting troublesome in our rear. General 
Dow was taken prisoner a day or two since, and to-day, Prainerd. of our 
companv, was taken and i)arole(l : he was on his way here trom the 
Landing with four others of our comixiny who were lett behind sick. I 
think this thing will be decided here very soon. Ood grant that we may 
be successful. Tell Lucy I think she wrote a nice letter, and 1 am very 
thankful for the papers they sent. 

••July 3. morning. The mail is just going. 

Yours as ever, 

\V^\SIII.S(iTON." 



I 



J 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 537 

Note. 

"Before Port Huo.sf)x, Jiilv 2. 1863. 
Dear Mother : 

•' Havinj^ an opportunity to send you a letter I have thouglit l)est to 
improve it, tliough I concluded after the lii^st l>attle not to write until after 
the fall of this rebel stronghold. But that time is liable to be more 
protracted than I then expected. 

"This regiment arrived here the twenty-second of May. and since that 
time Port Hudson has been closely invested on all sides. Batteries are 
planted all round, and deadly missiles are poured in upon the enemy tVom 
all directions. Sharpshooters are posted at siiort range Ijehind every 
stump, tree, or bush, that affords a shelter from tlie enemy, and from 
these hiding places a score of bullets flv at anv living thing that \en- 
tures to show itself above the parapet. This state of affairs must be 
greatly anno}'ing to the enem\'. hemmed in as the\" are, with no jjossihle 
way of getting more supplies, and without an inch of ground not exposed 
to our shells. But still Port Hudson holds out, although repeated and 
desperate efforts have been made to storm the works. The position is 
considered, naturallv, the strongest on the Missi.ssippi. It is a high 
bluff, or in other words, the land, instead of ])eing beneath high water, is 
raised several feet above, and is cut up into large fields by deep and 
tortuous ravines whose sides are nearly perpendicular, and being unfit for 
cultivation were formerly very heavily wooded. These ravines defend the 
approaches to the enemy's parapet on all sides, and those in the imme- 
diate vicinity having had their trees felled in all directions are rendered 
absolutely impassable for a body of troops in line of battle, especially 
under a galling fire from the enem_\"s artillery. The more I see of Port 
Hudson the stronger is my conviction that it will never be carried by 
storm except at a ruinous cost of life. But yet any general in Banks's 
situation, with a small arm)- one half of whose time had nearly expired, 
and threatened in the rear, could be justified in attempting its reduction 
more speedily than by regular siege. What the next movement will be 
I am unable to predict, but a large number of men have volunteered for a 
storming party, and they will probably make an attempt to enter foui" or five 
miles to the right. The Fifteenth is on the extreme left, in rit^e pits that 
are worked up the bluff to the very foot of the rebels' outer works. In 
some places the hostile parties have only the thickness of the parapet 
between them, and frequently handfuls of earth are exchanged, but it is 
sure death for one to expose his head. The rebels have at times amused 
themselves by putting large shells into a trough, then raising the inner end 



538 The Fifteenth Netv Hampshire Vohinteers. 

till they would roll out over tbe parapet down the steep bluff to us, but 
this mornint; our men succeeded in throwing a rope round their trough 
and pulling it away from them. The heat here is very oppressive. There 
have been many cases of sunstroke. The remaining ten of our boys are 
well. Perhaps you have not heard of Mr. Pond's death; he died at 
Baton Rouge. J. G. Morrison was killed in the battle of the twenty- 
seventh. J. H. Sanborn was mortal! v wounded. There are many other 
things I would like to write but have not time as the mail is going to 
leave. 1 am well. 

Yours in haste, 

ClI.\.S. M.ACGKEGOR." 

Note. Samples of what the signal flags are saying: 

"Opposite Pokt Hudson, June 29, 8 a. m. 

' Wait a moment : am waiting orders." 
' From whom ? ' 

' General Dwight. Move a little to the left." 

' How shall the mortar fire to hit the gun on wheels behind the citadel? 
How many yards is it? ' 

' Tiiree iuuidretl and fifty. The gim is not there.' 

• Where is it ? " 

' Fire eight hundred yards on the verge of the bank. No: si.x hundred 
yards." 

' Is it a rifled gun — about 62-pounder? " 

• Yes." 

'Six hundred yards from here?" 

' Yes." 

' Watch a shot tired at it from the mortar. How was that? ' 

• Try it at five hundred yards. Neither shell exploded. Fire little to 
the left." 

' Splendid range. Fire one hundred yards short of last shot." 
' That did not explode. Could not see where it fell.' 

• Will try it again. Keep watch.' 

' That fell one hundred yards short. Range good.'' 

' Did you see that?' 

' No; did not explode Can only see tlie shells wlien they liurst.' 

' Can you see the rebels at the citadel ? ' 

' Not in the citadel, but .scores of them on this side of it." 

' Direct our fire at them." 

' All right." •• 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 539 

"Opi'osite Fort Hudson, July i, 11 a.m. 

' Can you see that gun that is tiring now?" 

' Rebel guns opposite me are tiring.' 

' Are they together ? ' 

'No; one is six hunch-ed. erne one thousand, one eleven hundred 
yards from your battery." 

' On the river bank?' 

' Yes; within fifty yards of it.' 

' How was that shell from here?' 

' Don't know. I can direct one of your guns if you are ready.' 

' Ready now. Firing at second gun ; watch.' 

' Your last gun made a good shot. Little too far to the right.' 

' Watch our mortar. How was that ? ' 

' Fire little to left and one hundred yards short.' 

' Have rebel shell done any damage to our gims on right bank of 
river ? ' 

' Can't say." 

' Send a man to find out, if not too dangerous. Watch fire of these 
mortars particularly. How was that?' 

' Did not explode; fire again.' 

' How far is that gun next to citadel ? " 

' Six hundred yards.' 

' Chart says eighty-five yards from church. Will fire at it.' 

' Good range; fell two hundred yards short." 

' O. K. Who are the navy chaps with you?' 

' Dr. King and three others. Fifth gun of our battery hit lower rebel 
gun last shot. Tell them a hair lower; have just hit it again.' 

' See last shot ? ' 

' 'T was ten feet to the left.' 

' 1 mean the mortar shell.' 

' Struck in the citadel two hundred yards short.' 

' How is this? " 

' One hundred and fifty yards short.' 

> One Parrott on this side is disabled.' 

' How?' 

' Hit by rebel shells.' 

' Yes ; but how badly disabled, and hit in what part?' 

' The carriage was. hit underneath ; no great damage. Last shot one 
thousand vards short.' 



540 The Fifteenth Xei^' Hampshire W^liuitccrs. 

' General Stone wants to know it" any damage lias Ijeen done to rebel 
guns." 

' Our fifth gun has hit tlie breastworks of the big ride four times. Its 
fire is splendid. Can dismount it soon. No otlier damage.' 

' You say our fifth gun ? " 

' Yes ; from the left.' 

' Our sixth gun just made a glorious shot." 

' Is the carriage of our Parrott too much disabled to l)e immediately 
repaired ? ' 

' Think not; believe they are at work ui)on it. Let the si.xth gim tire 
ten feet more to the left." 

' How now about the fifth and sixth guns?' 

' The sixth gun is the bully boy.' 

' Can you give it any directions to make it more Inilly?' 

' Last .shot was little to the right." 

' Fearfully hot here ; several men sunstruck ; bullets whiz like fun. 
Have ceased firing for a while the ,gi.uis are so hot. Will profit by your 
directions afterward." 

' The rebels are firing that ritie ; No. 6 can stop them. They have 
knocked half the earthworks over before that big rifle." 

' Can they hit it with same aim?" 

' Yes." 
. ' Will fire at rifle now. Rejiort every shot.' 

' I must know what guns are to fire." 

' Only one in this battery." 

' Is it fifth or sixth ? " 

' Neither. It is a navy Dahlgrcn 1 want you to direct the tire of." 

' Be there to-morrow moiMiing at 6 ; cannot see." "' 

" July 2, 6 A. M. 

♦ Are you ready? " 

' Report shells from mortar." 

' Big ritie is just disabled by our Parrott." 

' How badly? Is any gun of big batter\- tiring at it now?" 

' The gun has pitched forward. No." 

' We are firing at the gun in ravine behind the citadel. How was 
that?" 

'Can't .see any gun mounted within one thousand yards of the citadel. 
Should like to direct fire of Nos. 9 ancl lo: is it jxissible? Last mortar 
shell fell seventv vards short of disabled rirle." 



Army Life at Port Hiidsoji. 541 

'What do you propose to tire at witli Nns. g and 10?' 

' Two fine giins. The lowest on river Ijank, and now tiring at our 
Parrotts.' 

' You can direct the tire of No. g or a 24-pounder. Will wait for your 
report after each shot. What was last shot?' 

' Forty yards to the right ; that shell hurst a little short. Range first 
rate." 

' Last shot I)Ut one was fifty yards to the right : last shot was splendid, 
only three yards to the right. Fire little lower.' 

' Fire little lower." 

' How was last shot from howitzer? " 

' That shot touched the breastwork eight feet to the right of the gun. 
Fire little lower.' 

' And the last ? ' 

' Had good range, but was one hundred yards short.' 

' That burst short.' 

' Last shot was one hundred yards to the right. This shot was capital ; 
a fraction high. Last shot was fifty yards to the right.' 

' It can't get any further to the left. Where is the second rebel gun? ' 

' Lowest gun is seventy-five yards from the river : second gun is little 
farther up and forty yards from the river." 

' How was that? ' 

' Little too high: last shot little too high." 

' Are we firing at the lower or second gun ? ' 

' Howitzer is firing at second gun ; the others fire to your right of 
both.' 

' Howitzer shell goes six feet over gun every time ; last shot was little 
too high. Too high again ; can't they or won't they depress that gun? ' 

' Won't, I guess.' 

' Was that shot any better? and that? " 

' Both and forever too high.' " 



542 The Fifteenth Xei^.' Hajiipshire \\>liniteers. 

Who reads this book must feel that it would be unfair and 
unjust to sin<;le out a member of the regiment, either of the 
officers or men, for sjiecial mention. This matter should 
receive brief consideration. The story of Colonel Kingman's 
conduct, in his first and only battle, is told in earlier pages. 
It is almost wholly gleaned from eye-witnesses and sources 
other than his own lips, he, though often importuned, remain- 
ing silent as to his own personal merits, apparently never 
thinking of self, or fearing to assume an air of egotism or 
self-gratulation. In his letter relating to his release from 
command he says nothing in relation to his services, and 
claims nothing on their account. Though in some lines 
exhibiting a bitterness of feeling, it is on the whole a manly 
expression of the grief of a great soul under a most trying 
ordeal. His conduct, then, as a citizen-soldier, is a remark- 
able one, and challenges the admiration of the world. He 
was calmer than the fiery Blair, and when all ho])e was gone 
set himself to save, and did actually save in the end, all of 
the day that was saved, and without him on that part of the 
line at that critical juncture when the enemy essayed to sally 
forth, the men that had composed Sherman's army, now 
utterly scattered and disorganized, would ha\e been made 
prisoners or jnit to total rout. Sherman, Cowles, Kingsley, 
and Blair, were seemingly all of that mould who would 
conquer or die, and unless they could win there should be 
nothing left to save, thus ignoring the good old adage that 

" He who fights and runs away 
May live to fight another day." 

But Sherman fell early in the fight, repeatedly and severely 
wounded. The gallant Cowles, in his brilliant uniform and 
polished boots, lay dead upon the field, reeking in his own 
blood, with his snow-white handkerchief spread over his face. 
Kingsley was shot througli the jaw. and the crimson stream 
gushed out like a fountain. Kingman's major and adjutant 



Army Life at Port lliidson. 543 

were both severely injured, and Blair was lying- helpless and 
bleeding" in a friendly nook at the very front, llius King- 
man was left alone and almost unaided in command of 
Sherman's rent and distracted forces. And here he checked 
the enemy's repeated sorties, although led and animated by 
such spirits as Beall, Miles, Boone, and McKennon, true 
gentlemen and soldiers all, and holding thoroughly at heart 
the cause for which they fought. 

All the colonel says for himself is that he assisted the 
color-bearer from the field, saw him properly cared for, and 
that when he came off at night he brought the flag with 
him ; and then, by order of General Andrews, assembled all 
soldiers, and without regard to organization, formed a line 
just at the burned Schalter house, in full expectation of 
another attempt of the enemy to sally forth in force. 

Like Blair and Cogswell, and many others, both of the 
rank and file, Kingman forgot his fever when the tocsin 
sounded for the grand assembly to meet the foe. No less an 
obstacle than death itself shall stay him now. If his leniency 
was excessive, his other fault as a military man was simply 
an absolute honesty and frankness of nature, utterly ignoring 
the hypocrisy of tact, which impelled him to an unthrifty 
haste in speech and an impetuousness and dash, there, that 
well accorded with his bearing on the day of battle. These 
are slight faults and common ones, and such as are particu- 
larly looked for in soldiers, which time and experience 
eliminate from all as men are ground and disciplined in the 
great mills of God. The men want no mere passive and 
negative creature for their colonel, but a real and positive 
character, one for whom they could shout and in whom they 
could glory, one who would lead them, participate in all their 
hardships, and share their dangers. Such an one they had 
in Kingman, and they liked his peculiarities as much as his 
other and less conspicuous parts and merits. A colonel's 



544 ^Z^'" I'iftcoitli .Wri' Ilainpsliiir \ 'oliuitccrs. 

place is in ihe rear of his regiment when it achances upon the 
foe, but Kingman, in the fearful heat of the southern noon- 
tide, doffed his coat and trappings, and sword in hand led his 
regiment, several paces in advance, and was just in the rear of 
Generals Sherman and Dow when they tell. Although there 
is abundant shelter right at hand neither he nor his men 
falter l)ut press on to tlie last, and there, at the \-ery front, 
x'igilant and busy in the midst of both life and death, he is 
found like King Henry of Navarre. It never occurred to 
such men that such a leader had faults, and if, in the strong 
light that beat upon him as on a throne, they should see that 
he had, they would honor him all the more for his himianity, 
and because he was like other men, for God hath fashioned 
all his best with some slight defects, which like black 
drops in the lily's bosom, sit there both in man and woman, 
a brace of cunning little devils that spice life, and by contrast 
bring to light its hidden beauties. 

Nothing can be added to what has already been said of 
Lieutenant-colonel l^lair, or what will occur in these images. 
I'here is no known case in all the might\' hosts of the Union 
armies, where so severely wounded and debilitated an officer 
remains on duty in such proximity to the eneni)-, and while 
nursing his wounds and husl)an(ling liis strength b)- reclining 
on a stretcher in the trenches, despatches the multifarious 
affairs of his position, and comes forth on all occasions of 
battle and peril to head and lead assaults, as on June 14 and 
the midnight attemi)t on the enemy's " Alalakoff." 

Major Aldrich and Adjutant Pinkham remain on duty 
regardless of their injuries. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 545 

COMPAXV A. 

Captain Cogswell and Lieutenant Hendley, as has been 
shown, each rose from a sick bed in Carrollton to embark 
with Sherman's expedition. Cogswell, being an invalid, is 
sent down river from Springfield Landing with a detachment 
of sick, but returns and reaches the bloody field of May 27 
just at the close of the battle. He then remains on duty, 
exposed night and day to the open elements and the fire of 
the enemy, and like all others, with no sustenance except the 
coarse fare of the commissary — the saltest of pickled beef 
and pork and hard crackers, and the blackest decoctions of 
tea and coffee with the muddy water of the great river — until 
June 17, when he is completely prostrated and sent to hospi- 
tal for good, and does not rally again till long after reaching 
home. Hendley is now the efficient and indispensable regi- 
mental quartermaster. Pickering, though wounded on the 
twenty-ninth of May, responds to every duty till the next day 
after the battle of June 14, when he is sent to hospital where 
he remains till the twenty-ninth. He then returns to his 
company, but succumbs finally, four days later, on July 2. 
During this absence of commissioned officers Sergeant Gor- 
don is in command till toward the very close, when he, also, 
is completely prostrated by rheumatic pains and lameness, 
and Lieutenant Parker is then assigned to Company A. 

Company R. 

Captain P21a is provost marshal at Carrollton. Lieutenant 
W^yatt is down river, having been severely wounded May 27. 
Lieutenant Page is slightly wounded, and otherwise debili- 
tated ; he is in hospital by order of the surgeons. 

Company C. 

Captain Lang is in hospital with his injuries. He is a man 
beyond the military age, and unequal to the extreme hard- 



546 The FiftcctitJi Xciv Hampshire W^litjiteers. 

ships of the service. But Httle can be found relating to 
Lieutenants Haseltine and Bean ; the latter is known to have 
been at the front, and though wounded, to have served 
there with great merit to the end. 

Company D. 

Than Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Chad wick, none 
could be more faithful, and it is doubtful if anything can be 
added to what appears in these pages as their daily record. 
As much should be said of Lieutenant Durgin, who, 
though a non-combatant, was as indispensable as any line 
officer in the regiment. His work was prodigious, and some 
have expressed a fear that he might not receive due promi- 
nence in our history. But in the attempt to do some one 
full and ample justice, there is always the danger of doing 
injustice to others by disparagement. He was often exposed 
to fire, and at one time while visiting the trenches to obtain 
Lieutenant-colonel l^lair's signature to a paper, a ball striking 
near by threw sand upon the ink. 

Company E. 

Captain Stearns, although wounded May 27, is on duty 
nearly every day throughout, and Lieutenant Parker, without 
a break, shares every danger and hardship of the company. 
Second Lieutenant Wood is sick at Carrollton. 

Company F. 

The daily record shows Captain Gordon on duty almost 
constantly at the front, although injured May 27. (See 
bottom of page 351.) 

Company G. 

Captain Osgood is absent in hospital with a wound receix'ed 

early in the siege, which, though reported slight, becomes 

very angry and dangerous, and from which he barely escapes 

with his life. Lieutenant Ayers is left behind in hospital 




WOODBURY M. DURGIN. 



After his discharge, on account of his shattered health, he sold his 
personal estate, and removed to Manchester, engaging in the shoe bus- 
iness there in company with Mr. (".. W. Dodge, under the firm name 
of Durgin & Dodge. After two and a half years he sold his interest to 
his partner, and returned to Northwood. In March, 1873. was elected 
county commissioner for his county, and served tliree years: in July, 
1876, was appointed register of prol^ate for Rockingham county, and 
removed to Exeter, holding that office until July, 1887: then again 
returned to his native town, wliich he has since repeatedly served in 
an official capacity. Has been justice of the peace liHoughout the 
state since 1857. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. S47 




LIKUT. JOSKl'H (i. AVKKS — Co. C. (See page S4. 



548 The FiftcciitJt Nciv HanipsJiirc J^oliDitccrs. 

with the fever, and does not rise from his bed till very near 
the close of the siege. Thus, during nearly the whole term 
of the siege, Lieutenant Pickering is in command. 

Company H. 

Of the officers of Company H, it is sufficient to state that 
their record appears in this work from day to day, and if 
equalled is not excelled. They escaped serious wounds as if 
by miracle, and seem physically to have withstood the hard- 
ships of the service better than the officers of any other com- 
pany. Lieutenant Seavey was wounded, as has been learned 
by diligent inquiry since his death, but was only absent from the 
front for a day or two. Lieutenant Perkins was also wounded, 
of which he made no entry in his diary, nor ever made men- 
tion in the many conferences held with him in relation to the 
siege, and the historian was surprised to run across the fact 
in reading through a great mass of letters written to his 
wife. He never left the front for a moment. 

Company L 

Captain Pinkham is sick and sent down river by order of 
the surgeons. Lieutenants Moore and W'allingford are in 
command. Moore was severely wounded at some time during 
the siege, and was sunstruck on June 14 ; W'allingford was 
very severely wounded June 14. 

Company K. 

Like the officers of Company H, those of Company K are 
all on duty, if not every day very nearly so. Second Lieu- 
tenant Larkin, of this company, and Private Coburn, Com- 
pany H, were the only two who responded to the call of June 
15 for the forlorn h()i)e storming column. Larkin's military 
record is one of which his comrades and the state and nation 
should be proud. After the fall of Port Hudson he was 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 549 

appointed a captain and mustered as such August 17, 1863 ; 
was transferred to the Seventy-third Infantry, October 5, 
1864; transferred to the One Hundred and Seventeenth 
Infantry, December 23, 1864 ; discharged August 10, 1867 ; 
brevetted major United States Vohuiteers, to date March 13, 
1865, for faithful and meritorious services during the war. 

Of enHsted men, not to mention any by name, let us notice 
all those who volunteered on May 27 to bridge the enemy's 
moat, those who were in the affair of the early morning of 
June II, and those composing the skirmish line of June 13, 
to all of whom was explained the character and dangers of 
the service expected of them, and full opportunity given to 
each to honorably retire from the line if he feared to die. 
The names of but few of these men can now be obtained. 
And thus of the living, when so many enacted an heroic part, 
only under very exceptional circumstances should any be 
singled out and receive personal mention. And of those who 
died, it should be thought that those who wasted away with 
the fever, in hospitals, and those who met death in terrible 
agony from diphtheria and other acute diseases, m some 
instances in the open fields, may have borne as brave a part 
as those who received wounds and death at the hands of the 
enemy. Though death by disease is not accounted so 
glorious as that of the battle-field, all who gave their lives 
for the cause should be held in especial and everlasting 
remembrance, that those who live after them may know 
something of the price at which were preserved the liberties 
established by the founders of the nation. The heritage to 
which they succeed should be valued at that high cost, and 
the only true and fitting way in which the future can attest 
their gratitude to our dead, or adequately honor their memory, 
is by zealously maintaining the cause for which they fell. 
Otherwise our dead have died in vain. 



550 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire ]\)/!inteers. 

July 3, Friday. Slight breeze ; very hot. Another man, 
whose name eannot now be learned, with the same rope 
which Tabor used, lassoed a great brass gun by its bell muzzle, 
which protruded from the citadel. " Do not let them pop 
me," he said to his fellow sharpshooters, as he clambered up 
to throw his noose. Great efforts were made by manning 
the rope to pull the gun away, but without success, and this 
rope remained so attached and drawn taut to the close of the 
siege, at which time a Confederate officer seeing it was 
greatly surprised to think that such a feat could be accom- 
plished at such close quarters. He said, " I should like to 
see the man who did that." The man was brought forward, 
when quite a company of the \'anquished gathered around 
him and lionized him ; they shook hands with him and hugged 
him. There was a general inspection held. Lieutenant 
Ayers, Company G, arrived at the front. Major Aldrich, 
who had returned to the regiment and remained twenty-four 
hours, was so unwell as to be compelled to return to Lieu- 
tenant Hendley's, where he passed the hot day and returned 
at 5 o'clock to the front again and there spent the night. 
Many convalescents arrived from below. .Andrew J. Cross, 
Company (i, died. 

In the evening the enem}- threw sliells and hand grenades 
quite }ilentiful]y among our sappers and miners, wounding 
several. Com])an)' K was called upon to protect them, when 
they advanced and tired briskl\- ten rounds and tlien fell 
back ; then the batteries opened on the enemy in full force 
and kept up a scattering fire all night. The regiment then 
fell back into the sunken road beside the ri\er, and there 

NoTi-:. Sergeant (liXT-noui^h I). Sanhoni, Company F. threw many 
hand grenade.s at the citadel. When the gutter was pulled away he threw 
twelve or fifteen. Tliey were of tiiree different sizes — 3. 6, and 
9-pounders, and fixed with ten-second fuses. Tlie fuses were lit with 
a match by (ieorge I'lace, of his company. 



Armj' Life at Port Hudson. 551 

rested till 9 o'clock of the fourth, when, for a much needed 
rest, they were relieved by the Twenty-sixth Connecticut, and 
marched to their bivouac in the woods behind the big battery, 
after lying eight full days and nights in the h(^t trenches, in 
the very teeth of the enemy. But there was much firing in 
the night, and all expected to be called on line. The night, 
however, passed away without further disturbance, and the 
boys, worn out and jaded to the last degree, greatly enjoyed 
their respite in the deep refreshing shade. 

July 4, Saturday. Very hot in the forenoon ; foggy morn- 
ing, cloudy and signs of showers toward night. In these woods 
we had a breakfast of boiled ham, hard bread, and coffee. 
Major Aldrich returns to duty, though still quite ill, and 
Lieutenant-colonel Blair is now quite unwell. Arthur S. 

Note. One of the Twenty-sixth Connecticut killed by sharpshooters. 
Of several who came to-day (the third) from Camp Parapet under Lieuten- 
ant Ayers, Company G, there were of Company H — Sweat, Coombs, 
Hines, Swain (Horace), and Brainerd. They arrived at Springfield 
Landing just at the time of the enemy's raid on that place, and Brainerd, 
among others, was captured and paroled. 

Port Hudson, July 3, 1863. 
Major : 

All is well down here in tlie DeviTs Elbow. Last night was unusually 
quiet; the enemy keeps coming with his trench. I think he is filing a 
little to the right. I am ready for Iiim ; let him come. I can whip him 
in four minutes if he shows himself. 1 do not think his trench will do 
him any good. I can hold the point, and intend to do it. 

This report is made simply to inform you that I am still in life and 
spirits. 

I am. Major, very respectfully, etc., 

O. P. LVLES, 
Colonel commaiidittg ris;ht wing. 
1VL\J0R F. K. Wn.sox, 

A. A. General. 

P. S. We tiu'ow our hand <rrenades on him, etc. 



5 52 TJic Fifteenth New HanipsJiirc l^ohiutecrs. 

Sawyer, of Company A, and Solomon N. Ncwlands, of Com- 
pany I, died. They still shell our sappers and miners, and 
artillery firing goes on, especially from our batteries across 
the river. Pettee and Lee leave Company K to re-enlist. 

July 5, Sunday. The extreme clear hot weather continues, 
but our regiment remains in the deep, cool, and refreshing 
shade, and no men ever more fully earned, needed, and 
enjoyed a respite from arduous and unremitting service than 
they. But look now across to the mighty ramparts that 
crown the opposite heights ; their bright, clean faces of new 
white earth are laid out with geometric precision, and all their 
angles and lines are as true and sharp as though struck in a 
gigantic die. The enemy lie unseen behind them in force, 
and spring to their guns on the least alarm. Our men in 
their trenches in front are busy as beavers, and multitudinous 
as the proverbial bee and industrious ant ; that subterranean 
mine approaches completion, and is ready for its charge of 
several tons of gunpowder. Its design is to thus, by a 
mighty eruption, upheave to the moon the lofty citadel and 
all its guns and men, and on the instant of theirT'consterna- 
tion a charging column dash forward to the breach and gain 

Note. 

Camp Parapkt, Cakkolltox, La., July 4, 1863. 

" Some of the proceedings which took place in this camp to-day : Salutes 
fired from the water batteries morning, noon, and night ; dress parade at 
8 o'clock ; guard mount soon after. Then the baggage of the Sixth 
Michigan Regiment and forty or fifty men came in here to camp between us 
and the river. The Forty-.seventh Ma.ssachusetts boys had a comic dress 
parade, making their dress look as bad as they could ; then some of the 
boys tried to ride a mule in a ring; some tried to climb a greased pole; 
some to go around the pole three times, and then start for'a dipper to 
strike it, being blindfolded ; some circus performances l\v a clown ; then 
to catch a greased pig; five dollars reward to any one who would perform 
any of these feats. In the evening they had a dance ; the Twelfth Maine 
Battery boys rai.sed a nice pole, upon which they unfurled to the breeze a 
nice new flag, the stars and stripes. Everything passed off pleasantly in 
honor of the clav, hut not niucli like a dav in \ew Hampsliire." 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 553 

a foothold within. Our regiment is undoubtedly resting 
now to lead that assault, and expects cacli moment to receive 
the order to move forward again into the trenches in close 
proximity, await the tremendous explosion, and make their 
dash in the very midst of the falling debris. 

Lieutenant-colonel Blair is quite enfeebled, and his wounded 
arm is in a very bad state. Major Aldrich, though not yet 
recovered, has returned to duty. Captain Sanborn is sick, 
lying near by with orders to be called in any emergency. 
Milton S. Brown, Company K, died to-day and was buried in 
the afternoon. 

The picket firing, sharpshooting, and bombarding go on 
as usual. 

July 6, Monday. At 9 o'clock in the morning the regi- 
ment marches down into the trenches, takes its position, 
and remains there quietly through the day and coming night, 
which is very rainy, and all have to sleep in the deep, sticky 
mud of the trench's bottom. Sergeant Gordon goes to 
hospital July 6, and Lieutenant Parker takes command of 
Company A. It is observed that the river is full of waste and 
debris and floating carcasses of horses and mules. The enemy 
are becoming very strong and active outside. They have 
blocked the river at Donaldsonville, and threaten our imme- 
diate rear. The springing of the mine is delayed. Our 
regiment is marched back and started for Springfield Landing 
at 1 1 o'clock in the forenoon of the seventh to repel the enemy 
there. After proceeding part way a halt was ordered and 
arms stacked for an hour, when the regiment returned to its 
camp in the woods, but was again routed at 1 i o'clock at 
night and marched into the pits and remained till 5 o'clock on 
the morning of the eighth, not to make the assault, but to 
prevent the escape of the enemy, for during our absence 
toward Springfield Landing news was received from General 
Grant of the surrender of Vicksburg on the fourth, with 
27,000 prisoners and several hundred cannon. Just before 



554 ^/^^' Fifteenth Xcw Havipshire W^lunteers. 

leavin<; the trenches in the morning to meet the enemy in the 
rear, a stir was noticed among the artiller\' men across the 
river and couriers there ; it was surmised that there was 
important news from above. Vicksburg, the great strong- 
hold, after prodigious and prolonged efforts, had fallen, and 
immediately thereon all its streets had been cleaned and the 
accumulated filth and offal cast into the turbid Mississippi ; 
and this accounts for the dead animals seen floating by. 

July 7, Tuesday. Daniel Hall, Company D, died at Port 
Hudson, and Hazen D. Nutter, Co. G, at Baton Rouge. 

Official news reached General Banks before noon, and dur- 
ing our regiment's absence, at exactly high noon, by order, 
rousing cheers were given amid a general discharge of small 
arms and a grand salute fired by all our fleets and batteries, 
pouring a terrific iron hail upon the devoted foe within. 
These were the last guns fired upon Port Hudson. The 
great news spread in a moment among the men, and was 
shouted to the enemy across the parapet at the citadel. It 
is tacitly understood by all that the end has come, and in the 
afternoon (ieneral Gardner — first having inc|uired, under a flag 
of truce, to i)e officially assured of the truth of the report 
which had reached him as a rumor now asks for a cessation 
of hostilities to consider terms of surrender. This General 
Banks refuses; hostilities are, howcNcr. tacitl\- suspended. 

i\\ 5 o'clock on the morning of the eighth, the regiment 
returns to its pleasant bixouac in the wooded raxine. It is a 
great relief now to stand up and draw a full breath without 
the bullets flying at one's throat, and the cncm_\- swarm out 
over their parapets to meet our men, who all fraternize like 
brothers. They are as glad as wc that the end has come. 

NoTK. Ivxtract from Major Aldrich : ••In a IlIIlt wimUlmi by me 
from Port 1 ludsoii, datL-d July <S, 1S63, I tiiid this item: •That tlic 
total number for dutv that dav was 320, l)Ut many of these were badly 
used u]), and it would recjuire many days ot" rest to brinL; them into m)od 
condition." " 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



555 



The wind rose to a gale in the afternoon, and there were 
showers at night. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the eighth, 
terms of surrender were fully determined and agreed on. At 

5 o'clock it was raining quite hard, and continued till after 
dark. Our regiment had orders to march at 5 o'clock, but 
they were countermanded with instructions to be on line at 

6 o'clock in the mornino-. 





CORP. AMOS V. PARKER— Co. C. JOSEPH B. NELSON. 

The ninth, after a cool, damp, foggy morning, was a beau- 
tiful day. At 7 o'clock in the morning formal possession of 
Port Hudson was taken, a grand and veteran arm)- marched 
in, in full military array, receiving the surrender of the garri- 
son, raising the flag to the breeze on the lofty river front, and 
firing the national salute. The regiment was on line at 6 
o'clock and stood two hours, then marched down the Alt. 
Pleasant road into the valley and across it up under the para- 
pet, when it was countermarched to its bivouac to await 
orders. Now a small army of ten regiments, under (icneral 
Weitzel, immediately embark on seven transports for Don- 
aldsonville to drive out the enemy who have gained a foothold 
at that place. 



556 The Fifteenth New Hampshire JuT/uuteers. 

Joseph B. Nelson, Company B, brother-in-law of Lieutenant- 
Colonel Blair, who had been through all the dangers and hard- 
ships of the siege, died this day at Port Hudson. Amos V, 
Parker, Company C, died at Baton Rouge. 

Port Hudson, La., July 5, 1863. 
M.A.JOR T. F. Wilson, 

Assistant Adjutant- General : 
Major: The following named commands have applied to me for the 
following named amounts of either mule or horse meat, to wit : 



Commands. 


Officers. 


Men. 


_ 


30 


555 





Wingfield's battalion, Eighteenth Arkansas... . i 50 

Twelfth Arkan.sas . . 1 100 

Sixteenth Arkansas 30 i 180 



Total 60 885 

I \ . 

Total, 945 officers and men. 

They would like to have this ration for to-morrow, this evening. 
Respectfully submitted. 

I am. Major, yours, etc., 

J. P. Jones, 
Captain ami Adjutant. 

Headquarters, Port HuDst)N, La.. July 7. 1863. 
Major-General Banks, 

Commanding U. S. forces near Port Hudson, La. : 
General: Having received information from your troops that \'icks- 
burg has been surrendered, I make this communication to ask you to give 
me the official assurance whether this is true or not ; and if true, I ask for 
a cessation of hostilities with a view to consider terms for surrendering 
this position. 

I am. General, very respectfully. 

Your olx'client servant, 

Frank Gardner, 
Major-General commanding C. S. forces. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 557 

Headquarters Department of the Gulf, 19TH Army Corps, 

Before Port Hudson, July 8, 1863, 1.15 a. m. 

Major-General Frank Gardner, 

Commaiiding C. S. forces. Port Hudson, La.: 
General: In reply to your communication, dated the seventh instant, 
by flag of truce received a few moments since, I have the honor to inform 
you that I received yesterday morning, July 7, at 10.45 o'clock, by the 
gunboat " General Price," an official despatch from Major-Gen. Ulysses 
S. Grant, U. S. Army, whereof the following is a true extract : 

" Headquarters Department of the Tennf:ssee, 

Near Vicksburg, Miss., July 4, 1863. 
Major-General N. P. Banks, 

Coininanding Department of the Gulf: 
General: The garrison of Vicksburg surrendered this morning. 
Number of the prisoners as given by the officers is 27,000, field artillery 
128 pieces, and a large number of siege guns — probably not less than 80. 
I am. General, very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 

U. S. Grant, 
Major-General." 

I regret to say that, under present circumstances, I cannot, consistently 
with my duty, consent to a cessation of liostilities for the purpose you 
indicate. 

Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 

N. P. Banks, 
Major- General commanding. 

Headquarters, Port Hudson, La., July 8, 1863. 
Major-General N. P. Banks, 

Conunanding U. S. forces near Port Hudson, La. : 

General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your com- 
munication of this date, giving an official communication from Major-Gen. 
U. S. Grant, U. S. Army, announcing the surrender of the garrison of 
Vicksburg. 

Having defended tliis position as long as I deem my duty requires, I am 
willing to surrender to you, and will appoint a commission of three officers 
to meet a similar commission appointed by yourself, at 9 o'clock this 



558 The luftccnth Xciv Hanipsliirc W^liiutccrs. 

There were killed or mortally wounded, during the siege, 
of officers from Connecticut, 7 ; from Louisiana, 8 ; from 
Maine, 4 ; from Massachusetts, i 3 ; from Michigan, i ; from 
New Hampshire, 4 ; from New York, 26 ; from \'ermont, i ; 
from Wisconsin, 5 ; from U. S. Volunteers, 2 ; total, 71. 
Officers wounded, not mortally, 168; captured or missing, 12. 

By official reports there were of enlisted men killed, 663 ; 
wounded, mortally and otherwise, 3,145 ; captured or missing, 
307 ; total, 4,115. 

morning, for tlie purpose of agreeing upon and drawing up the terms of 
surrender; and for tliat purpose I ask a suspension of liostiiities. Will 
you please designate a point, outside of my breastworks, where the meet- 
ing shall be held for this purpose ? 

I am, (jeneral, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

Frank Gardner, 
Major- General co)iuna7iding C. S. forces. 

Hkauquarters U. S. Forces, 

Before Port Hudson, La.. July S, 1863, 

4.30 A. M. 
Major-General Frank Gardner, 

Coiiiiiianding C. S. forces. Port Hiidsoiu La. : 
General : 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your com- 
munication of this ilatc, stating that you are willing to surrender tiie 
garrison under your command to the forces under my command, and that 
you will appoint a commission of three officers to meet a similar commis- 
sion appointed by me, at 9 o'clock this morning, for the purpose of 
agreeing upon and drawing up the terms of surrender. In reply I have 
the honor to state that I have designated Brig.-Cien. Charles P. Stone, 
Col. Henry W. Birge, and Lieut. -Col. Richard B. Irwin, as the commis- 
sioners to meet the commission appointed by you. They will meet your 
officers at the hour designated, at a point near where the flag of truce was 
received this morning. I will direct that active hostilities shall entirely 
cease on my front till further notice, tor the purpose stated. 

\'ery respectfully, your nH)st obedient servant, 

N. P. Banks, 
Major- General coinniamlhig. 



Annv Life at Port Hudson. 559 

It has already been stated that the Confederate general, 
Johnston, had ordered General (iardner to evacuate Port 
Hudson and escape with his forces toward Jackson, but he 
received the order too late, and was thereby entrapped by 
General Banks with a superior force. Records show that 
Gardner intended to evacuate on the twenty-fourth of May, 
and had ordered Logan, of the (Confederate cavalry, outside, 
to so place his forces as to aid in the movement. Logan, 
May 29, to General Johnston, says : " A reinforcement of 
eight thousand or ten thousand men thrown in Banks' rear, 
will drive him from Port Pludsonin five days. I am informed 
that Lieut. -Gen. E. K. Smith is now at or near the mouth of 
Red River with ten thousand men. If he could come down 
and cross at Port Hudson, under cover of our guns. Port 
Hudson would be relieved at once." Both Gardner and the 
enemy outside still entertained the idea of escape, and 
through the siege were vigilant for an opportunity to make 
the dash eastward, and thus comply with Johnston's orders. 
It so appears that the suspicions of Banks in this respect 
were well founded, and he therefore was constantly on his 
guard against a sally in force from within, or attack from 
without. Banks says the siege " was conducted constantly 
with a view to the capture of the garrison as well as the 
reduction of the post." Now the beleagured Gardner, 
debarred from all communication with his confederates in 
arms, and thus left wholly to his own resources and general- 
ship, and, at the first, evidently deeming his smaller force 
inadequate to cope with Banks alone in the open field, makes 
no effort, as yet, to break away, but pursues a waiting policy ; he 
is apparently desirous and seeking to entice Banks to weaken 
the besieging army by assaults on his impregnable lines, and 
while, too, disease and the fever should decimate his unaccli- 
mated ranks until reduced to a degree that he, Gardner, 
might, with the co-operation of his confederates without. 



560 The l-'ifteciith Xcik.' Hauipsliirc I \>lu)itteys. 

essay to escape with some hope of success. Now by 
General Banks' own showing, toward the close of the siege, 
such a dire consummation is well nigh reached by the wiley 
Gardner, when Vicksburg fortuitously fell, in a moment 
liberating (General Grant's mighty forces, both military and 
na\al, to assist Banks if need be, thus rendering (Gardner's 
further defense of his position unnecessary and impracticable. 
General Banks says : " When the proposition of General 
Gardner to suspend hostilities, with a view to consider terms 
of surrender was received, there were 6,408 officers and men 
on duty within the lines, 2,500 in the rear of the besieging 
forces and on the west bank of the river opposite Port Hud- 
son, and 1 2,000 men, under Generals Green and Taylor, 
between Port Hudson and Donaldsonville, who had, by estab- 
lishing their batteries on the west bank of the river, effectually 
cut off our communication with New Orleans, making 21,000 
men actively engaged iii raising the siege at the time of the 
surrender." He further says: "The besieging force was 
reduced to less than 10,000 men, of whom more than half 
were enlisted for nine months' service, whose terms were 
about to expire, and a few regiments of colored troops organ- 
ized since the campaign opened from material gathered from 
the country. The position assailed was, from the natuial 
defenses of the country as well as from the character of the 
works constructed, beliexcd by the eneni}' to be impregnable. 
The besieging army, to reach this position, had marched 
more than five hundred miles " — except Sherman's division — 
" through a country where no single line of supplies could be 
maintained, against a force fully equal in numbers, fighting 
onl}' in intrenchments and gathering material for reinforcing 
its regiments in the country through which it passed. There 
are but few sieges in the history of war in which the disparity 
of forces has been so marked, the difficulties to be encoun- 
tered so numerous, the victory more decided, or the results 
more important." 



Aniiy Life at Port Hudson. 561 

Although it is claimed that Gardner, in commending- the 
gallantry of his troops at the capitulation, emphatically stated 
that his surrender was not on account of the fall of \'icks- 
burg, or the want of ammunition or pnnisions, but because 
of the exhaustion of his men, yet the correspondence shows 
that he would not consider terms of surrender until officially 
assured of Vicksburg's fall and the capture of Pemberton's 
arm}'.* The garrison was reduced to great straits i^hysically 
as were also the besiegers, but yet seemed to have for their 
sustenance plenty of Indian meal and molasses, and mule 
meat. Their grist mill had been destroyed by our shells, but 
another had been improvised and set in motion by jacking up 
a locomotive at the depot and passing a belt around its driv- 
ing wheels. 

l^ut up to the date of the surrender the enemy had never 
relaxed their xigilance for a moment at any single point of 
their long lines, nor yielded a single iota of the works which 
they at first set themselves to hold and defend. All things 
go to show that if X'icksburg had held out for a few more 
days. Banks, in desperation to succeed now or be himself 

* \otp:. This comnnmicalion pn)l)al)ly reached Bank.s about midnight, 
as his reply is dated at r . i 5 o'clock next morning. 

Headqcakteks, Port Hcnsox, La., July 7. 1S63. 
Majok-Gexeral Baxks, 

Coiiniianding U. S. forces near Port Uintaon, La. 
General: Having received information from your troops that \'icks- 
burg has been surrendered, I make tliis conuiumication to ask you to give 
me the official as.surance wlietlier this is true or not ; and if true, I ask for 
a cessation of hostilities with a view to considering terms for surrendering 
the position. 

I remain. General, very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 

Fraxk Gardxer, 

Major-Geueral. 



562 The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire J\>//niteers. 

overwhelmed, was fully intent and prepared to immediately 
precipitate his elite storming; column ujion the enemy's works 
with another general assault ; had such an assault failed like 
its predecessors, which, by the axioms of war in all likelihood 
it would, then the poor remnant of his bleedino- and shat- 
tered army would have been at the mercy of the foe, Gardner 
then having attained the opportunity which he had so patiently 
and heroically awaited. Banks was practically surrounded 
now by superior numbers, who were constantly gathering 
head and strength, the suppressed disunion sentiment of the 
country growing more and more bold and aggressixe as their 
prospects brightened. Under these circumstances Banks 
would be forced to try desperate conclusions, and stake all on 
one single, last, and sui)reme effort. It can now be seen 
that Banks, like Gardner, should also ha\e jnusued a waiting 
•policy rather than throw his splendid army u])on the enemy's 
fortifications with sucli blooch* results, with such irreparable 
loss to himself and comparatixely slight injury to the enemy, 
and no gain except what might have been, and was later, 
attained by regular siege approaches. At exery point of 
assault the attacking forces were utterl)- disorganized and 
shattered b}' natiu'al obstructions loui; before the)- reached 
the enemy's parapets, and if the}- could ha\-e gained a point 
of proximity, as was attempted on the morniiig of June 11, 
their lines would have been subjected to a murdei-ous entilad- 
ing fire from both the right and left, so skilfully designed 
were the enemy's intrenchments. At the " Malakoff," the 
point of the projected attack of June 30, the strengili and 
intricacy of the works are trul}- ania/.ing. h'irst, they crowned 
a dizzy and nearl\- xertical licight ; Inning scaled ihe outer 
parapet, just within was a niassixe \' shai)ed work — back 
of that a traverse, and then the main jiarajiet was to be 
encounteretl, the whole occupying a small and narrow space 
of loft}- ground, cut steep down to the rixer on the one hand 



Annv Life at Port Hudson. 563 

and to the i^rcat ravine on the other, with nature's own free 
hand and wild abandon. All around the works mines were 
laid to be spruni;- with wires running;- in the i;rass, and at this 
vital point not only yuns along their jjaraj^et, but the enemy's 
pivot guns on the river front, ccuild concentrate their fire in 
case of an escalade such as was projected for the night of 
June 30. 

lianks further says : " The eneni)' admitted, after the 
close of the siege, that they had lost in killed and wounded 
during the siege, 610 men ; but they underrated the number 
of prisoners and the guns they surrendered, and their loss in 
killed and wounded was larger than was admitted by them. 
It could not have been less than 800 or 1,000 men ; 500 were 
found in the hospitals. The wounds were mostly in the 
head, from the fire of our sharpshooters, and were \ery 
severe." He says, too, " In this campaign we captured 
10,584 prisoners, as follows: Paroled men at Port Hudson, 
exclusive of the sick and wounded, 5,953 — officers, 455; 
captured b)- Grierson at Jackson, 150; First Arkansas 
battalion and Fifteenth Arkansas captured, Ma}' 27, loi ; on 
board steamers in Thompson's creek, 25 ; deserters, 250 ; 
sick and wounded, 1,000; captured at Donaldsonville, June 
28, 150; captured west of the Mississippi, 2,500 — in all, a 
number fully equal to the force to which the garrison sur- 
rendered. We captured, also, 73 guns, 4,500 j^ounds of 
powder, i 50,000 rounds of ammunition, 6,000 small arms, 4 
steamers, 20,000 head of horses, cattle, and mules, 10,000 
bales of cotton, and destroyed the enemy's salt works at New 
Iberia, 3 gunboats, and 8 steam transports." 

On the very day of the capitulation, July 9, seven trans- 
ports, carrying all (General Banks's available force, were sent 
down the river against the enem)-, and the countr}- was soon 
freed from his presence. 



564 ^/^'" Jl'ifft'<-''if^' Xcw HavipsJiiir ]'olnntccrs. 

It was a victory obtained at the very last extremity of 
human endurance and valor, a victory of great and far-reach- 
ing import and consequence, and the crowning triumph of 
the Union arms. It opened up the grandest arter}^ of com- 
merce known to the revolving globe, and instantl)' the mighty 
volume of its traffic rc\ived and poured on to the sea. It 
severed the great rebellion in twain, and sealed its fate, as 
also it assured the final success of the Union cause, the 
re-establishment of national unity and a lasting peace. General 
Banks further says : 

" The two armies that had fought each other with such 
resolute determination, fraternized on the day of the surrender 
without manifestations of hostility or hatred"; they also 
greeted each other as brothers at all times of truce, and it 
was a frequent occurrence for opposing pickets to agree to a 
pri\ate conference, whereupon they would la\- down their 
rifles, meet and converse for an hour or more, like the closest 
friends. At such times it was customary for our men to 
share their hard bread and tobacco with their famishing 
friends, the enemy. On one such fraternal occasion. Moody 
Rowland relates that he invited a Confederate picket to his 
post but received a counter invitation to visit the enemy's 
side, they saymg that the}' had some wild honc\- thcic which 
they would share with him. He accci-»ted the invitation, and 
actually crossed o\er the parapet into tlie enem_\'s works, at 
a point where it was eight feet high. In all the horizon there 
is not the remotest thought of personal enmity. It seems 
rather that a unixcrsal princij^le is being tought out — no less 
a business than one pertaining to the gods themselves, one 
that has often drenelK-d the world in blood, and to which can 
be directly traced all the crimes and wars of earth — whether 
justice or cupidit\- sliall rule llie world ; whether from a mere 
blind passion of human greed the I'haraohs who gather into 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 565 

their hands the wealth wrung from the mines and harvest- 
fields of earth, by the unremitting toil of the masses of man- 
kind, shall waste it in luxury and extravagant ostentation, and 
shall use its vast power to oppress, enslave, degrade, and 
brutalize those who produce it ; whether mankind shall enjoy 
free and equal rights, and those who toil, a just p(;rtion of 
their own earnings, in a great world where there is food, 
shelter, sunlight, air, and room enough for all the children 
of men and many fold more if only justice might prevail, or 
shall production be restricted or diverted to useless ends, 
and the masses be held as mere brutes and chattels, the 
properties of a heartless few who shall despise and despoil 
them, and rule them with a rod of iron. 

As it appeared to us, the South were battling for the 
destruction of the Union that human slavery might be 
extended and perpetuated, while the North entered upon the 
gontest simply for the preservation of the nation established 
by the fathers. Theirs was thus, to us, apparently, a low 
cause and an unholy one ; ours, one of true patriotism, the 
loftiest that can inspire the human breast, l^ut the real 
cause was far above e\en this latter, and, though hidden at 
first, was later revealed to all parties to the strife ; from 
motives of greed merely, during nearly our whole colonial 
and national existence, under our boasted flag of the free, and 
in despite of the Declaration of Independence, and the ban- 
ners of St. George, Spain, and P(jrtugal — the aboriginal 
Indians having first been tried b}' the early Spaniards and 
found physically unecjual to the task — the regions of tropical 
Africa were despoiled of their young and robust, who were 
transported in slave ships to the mines of the New World, 
and the cotton, cane, and tobacco fields, and rice swamps of 
the South. Here they were set over by task-masters and 
driven by the lash. 



566 The Fifteenth .Wti- Hampshire I 'olKuteers. 

But in \-ie\v of its nian_\- excesses and abuses, the humani- 
tarian sentiment of the world, which, hke the " vox j^opuH," 
may be regarded as the real voice of God, eventually arose 
and revolted against the traf^c, as also the general principle 
of human slavery. Accordingly, after a long and bitter 
struggle, the slave trade was abolished by Great I^ritain in 
1808, was later made a felon}', and in 1824 declaretl piracy 
and a capital crime. Immediately following (ireat Hritain, 
the United States also abolished the traffic by law, and both 
countries, after 1842, maintained a squadron of war-ships on 
the African coast for its suppression. Hut these measures 
had at first the effect of driving it under the protection of 
the Spanish and Portuguese flags. And — l^oth British and 
American subjects still pursuing the trade by stealth — they 
had the still further effect of dri\ing the traders to o\-ercrowd 
their ships to a degree of suffocation, in which ofttimes as 
many as two thirds of a cargo died on the middle passage and 
were cast overboard into the sea. Between the slave coast 
and the West India islands, the ocean's floor is marked by a 
trail of their bleaching bones. I^'urther, when the slavers 
were sighted by the sentinel war-ships, and on trial finding 
themseh^es unable to outsail their pursuers, these hardened 
marauders compelled their hapless victims, each with a weight 
affixed to his neck, to walk the gangplank by procession and 
the lock step into the ocean, thus sinking them from sight to 
hide the evidence of their guilt from human eyes. But 
because of the in\ention of a machine that would separate the 
seed from the fibre of the cotton j^lant, there arose an enor- 
mously increased demand for slave labor just as the partial 
suppression of the traffic limited the supply, and thereby 
grew up, with many kindred inic|uities, the most revolting 
crime against humanity ever committed by any people. 
Because of this scarcity and the increased demand, prices 
rose to an abnormal point, slave breeding became a lucrative 



A nil]' Life at Port Hudson. 567 

business, and as every child born of a slave mother was a 
slave also, a class dressed in broadcloth and sporting jewels in 
their shirt fronts, and devout at church, reared their own 
children and sold them into eternal bondage, for which 
vicious means of gain the North as well as the South, and all 
the world besides that profited by the scheme, were cc|ually 
guilty. 

The slavery of the old civilizations before Christianity was 
known in the world, was far more humane than that thus 
established by Christian nations in the New World. Their 
slavery was due wh(;lly to captives taken in war, and grad- 
ually mellowed down to a mild form of serfdom or vassalage. 
There were laws for their protection, and courts to which slaves 
could appeal, and even old Rome enacted that i)arents should 
not be separated from their children, nor sisters from brothers, 
while here families were remorselessly broken up at the auction 
block, and children torn screaming from their mothers' arms 
never to meet again, unless there is a life beyond the skies. 
Though in few instances, but not without punishment, some 
heartless masters among the Romans turned the old and 
debilitated out to starve on an island, or threw them into 
their artificial ponds to feed their fishes, we do not read 
that they, as a business, reared their own children and sold 
them like horses and mules. Freedom for the lowly has 
advanced, however, since returning huntsmen shot workmen 
from the roofs of London for the mere sport of seeing them 
tumble to the ground, and by a great stride since the days 
of the inquisition, when nine millions of absolutely innocent 
people, mostly women and mothers, were burned at the stake 
by the Christian church, so called, for witchcraft, and other 
innocent millions for so-called heresy, whose property, when 
so executed, was confiscated to their murderers. The world 
at large has yet attained but a small part of the liberty its 
rightful due. It must be, yet, that the masses shall have 



568 The T'ifhiiit/i .AVii' Ilavipslnir I 'oliDitccrs. 

the intellii;encc ami the sjiirit to ask wii)- the)- should sup- 
port royal families, standing- armies and navies, nobilities, 
established churches, and a thousand rich and grasping nabobs 
and heartless and insatiable monopolies, which even now leave 
the toilers of the world but one dollai in ten of all their 
earnings, and are constantl}- reaching for that. 

The slaxer's pastor taught that African slaver}' was a 
di\ine institution, and all its advocates were flattered because 
in an old Jewish book which jiriests in a more ignorant and 
susceptible age, from motives of greed, had duped many to 
believe divine, from a mass of follies, for a salary, could read 
to them that a great man of God, called Noah, while beastly 
drunk and lying thus naked, was accidentally run upon by his 
son Ham, who was thereby mo\-ed to laughter, for which trifling 
offense, Noah, after recovering from his cups, cursed the 
absolutely innocent Caiiaan, Ham's son, and therefore Xoah's 
own little grandson, saving, " A ser\ant of servants shalt 
thou be." This branch of Xoah's descendants settling, as 
it was alleged, in Africa, tlie}- were thus — the druid<en Xoah 
being (iod's \icegerent on eartli — b\- the Almighty's own 
decree the lawful spoil of all Christian men ; and the pastor 
also taught that if no other reason or excuse existed for such 
a diabolical traffic as the sla\e trade, the bare fact of bringing 
these poor benighted heathen to our shores into the influence 
and pale of our Christianit\- and civilization, where they 
might renounce the false gods of ilieir fathers and learii the 
gos]')el of tlie meek and lowlv Xazarine, tlie wa\' of sahation 
througii a murdered redeemer, and the shocking and bloody 
doctrine of tlie cross, was of itself a necessary and laudable 
missionary and C'liristian work, for which recording angels 
would gi\'e its jironioters the brightest seats in heaxen. It 
was attempted, without success, to show tliat the negro's 
anatoni\-, skull, antl facial angles, showed hiiii niore nearly 
allied to baboons and nioiikevs than while men were, ami tliat 



I 



A Jill y Life at Port Hudson. 569 

he was, therefore, a beast, and not of the lordly genus homo, 
and possessed no lights that white men were bound to respect. 
But in all points he was a man as much as a Sjxiniard or a 
Turk, all races differing only as affected by long continued 
habits and climatic influences. If the blood drawn by 
the master's lash had been black or green, then they would 
ha\e had a notable argument. Hut it, too, was red, and 
thicker than water, and cried to heaven tenfold more loudly 
than another color would. Such shallow arguments, and 
others equall_\- ridiculous and silly (see page 497) were soberly 
put forth in all the pulpits of the land as an unction to 
guilty souls. Men were mobbed right here in New Hamp- 
shire, and even in classic and cultured Boston, on whose 
common " witches " were hung onh' a little before, who, at 
the risk of their lives, dissented from these views. All this 
wickedness, sufificient to sink a nation, simply that a few 
might be rich and idle, and have wine in their homes and 
drink it from silver cups, and when, if such a consummation 
was reached b}- such murderous means, the wine would not 
be so pleasant a draft nor so grateful or beneficial to the body 
or the heartless and guilty soul inhabiting it, as a drink of 
water from a gourd, and the communion wines were derived 
from these same means. 

But it appears that the justice that sits in the trancjuil and 
sunny skies is not to be hoodwinked nor cajoled by such false 
reasoning, and by some inexorable law of nature, e.xact and 
equal vengeance and justice must exentuall}" o\ertake all 
wrong and the doers thereof, be they single and ]ninv indi- 
viduals, or the mightiest potentates and nationalities of earth. 
And now the guilty world is being swept by an appalling storm 
of passion and blood which human hands are utterl}' power- 
less to stay — which no human j^ower can sta}- more than the 
sightless whirlwind — till heaxen's ends of vengeance and 
justice are all attained. The cry of the o])]:)ressed has reached 



570 The Fiftcoith Xciv Ilampshiir ]\)/ii/ifccrs. 

heaven's car ; war is in the air and leathers there black and 
portentous, hicHni; all its kindly azure and all its blessed 
sunshine. War's creatures here are but puppets, acting 
blindl}- under heaven's eye. There is to be a leveling up in 
the moral world, as though the ocean were jnit from its 
et|uilil)i-ium, which it resumed with witle-spread horror and 
ruin to thousands of seeminglv innocent souls, but from 
which chastisement of heaven the oppressed escaped 
unscathed. Thus great national and world-wide crimes are 
being expiated, and though this distracted land was already 
thick with the gore of its bravest sons, and all her streams 
crimsoned with their blood, not \ct was heaxen satisfied ; not 
yet had the last dollar of wealth ])iled bv unrequited hands 
been immolated in war ; nor yet had the last drop of blood 
drawn by the lash been repaid with one drawn b}' the sword 
from the hearts of the oppressors. Had there been no 
slavery and no op|M-ession and wrong, there had been no 
war. When there are other oppression and wrong, and insati- 
able greed again holds sway, there will be other u])hea\alsand 
storms of blood to atone ; warning will be gixen long before, 
and nnitterings will be heard, which being unheedctl, the 
consequent wrath will fall. All wars are waged by tyrants 
for base i)urposes, or they are the volcanic outbuist of the 
oppressed or in their behalf, while the world is in a tormatixe 
state ; and each tends to lighten the buixlens of the ])oor and 
downtrodden, teach them the si)irit of resistance, and lift them 
and all the world to a higher plane and into the free, pure air 
and sunshine and liberties, which (lod intended for all. 
Eliminate from the world that element of human greed which 
seeks to filch from others the results of their toil without 
equixalent, then will the millcnium ha\e come. That same 
man who heartlessl}- seeks a plethora of uni)aid-for gain, 
is the same monstei- in another guise who gathered gold from 
the sla\e trade and opjiression of old. 



An//_v IJfc at J^ort Hudson. 571 

W'e should learn from history, like na\-igators, to shun the 
rocks on which other ships have foundered, and by avoiding 
injustice and oppression escape all war and its frightful costs, 
a tithe of which, if expended for the general good instead of 
to secure dividends on watered stock, would cut a tide-water 
canal across the Isthmus of Daricn, and complete a thousand 
similar works, put cvciy inchistrious and descrxing man in a 
home of his own earning, harness Niagara and the broad mouth 
of the Bay of Fundy, light and heat, free of cost, all the 
hamlets and cities of the globe, and by modern appliances of 
communication acquaint and combine all peoples in one united 
and happy family. Those who shout for their national emblem 
" right or wrong," should i^onder deeply the story of 
American slavery, and all who would shirk their own true 
share of earth's burdens, and especially the rich and grasping, 
should consider that, in the end, corruption wins not more 
than honesty, and that under a sway of strict and impartial 
justice more could be attained for themsehes, as well as for 
all others, if they would but lift their hands from the throats 
of the toiling millions and permit them to rise and prosper 
also. The powerful should find some pleasure in the fact that 
their neighbors are prosperous, and be awed by the invariable 
result that in the end all unholy gains will be swept away by 
a hurricane of turmoil and blood. This is universal justice 
and right, and a religion on which only can one base a hope 
of heaven. W^e shall be saved by works and not b\' faith, 
else the good will be damned, while pirates and marauders 
occupy the seats of angels. The votaiies of this new 
religion of impartial justice and equal rights will not grow 
old, but young, when they ripen like wheat in an harvest 
field, and when one's white hair is far more beautiful than the 
auburn locks of life's springtime. At life's sunset the soul 
will have grown till it has far outgrown the body, and the 
body will remain within it like a nucleus of earth's dross in 



572 The Fifteenth Xciv Hampshire ]\)/iinteers. 

the midst of a radiant cloud of i^iorv. Surel\-, when the 
Pharaolis of earth sliall re^^ard their wealth and its power as 
a trust for those from whom it is wrung, and wield it for the 
general good instead of wasting it in war or on useless p\-ra- 
mids and monuments of human folh', then the hours of labor 
will be reduced to a mere nonentity, and all the world will 
blossom as God wot. Intelligence and true philosoj^hy shall 
guide the plow and wield the hoe, instead of dark-visaged and 
hopeless creatures sunk b)' the high priests and rulers of 
earth, in the name of charity and religion itself, to a state of 
brutishness beneath the reptiles of old Nile ; unless, here, 
the shackljs that bind the world have been somewhat loosened 
and the world lifted somewhat toward the millenium of abso- 
lute human liberty, then all our dead have died in vain. 

Jul}- lo, Thursday. A beautiful summer daw A shower 
in the atternoon, when it rained for one hour. The regiment 
still bivouacs at the same place. Long jM-ocessions of mule 
teams are hauling commissar}' stores into Port Hudson. It 
is a dav of general rejoicing oxcrour victory. Manx' \isit the 
fallen stroiighold, fraternize with the \anquished, and witness 
the hax'oc made by our batteries. Their siege guns are 
largely dismantled and broken. One great gun of their river 
batteiies had receixed a shot from across the ri\er down its 
iron throat, which was too large for its calibre, and had split 
its wa}' in for c|uite a distance still remaining imnioxable 
there. Houses are perforated and destroyetl, and general 
destruction is exerywhere visible. Here, also, shells falling 
in cemeteries and exploding deep in the ground beneath had 
thrown the dead in their coffins to the surtace. Tort Hudson 
\illage was com):)lcteh- riddled, and its church could hardly 
hold together. Dead horses and mules lay about, and there 
was a sickening nausea in tlic woods from their unburied 
carcasses. Some were noticed h-inu' as the\' fell in their 



Anny Life at Port Hudson. 573 

harness, still attached to the demolished wagon. Six cords 
of muskets surrendered by the enemy were piled in one 
place, and near by were forty or tift}' brass field j^ieces. 

A sad duty was enacted on the battle-field of June 14, 
where those who fell then were hastily buried in shallow 
graves in the night-time after the battle, by reinterring such 
as were now partially exposed, some of whom presented 
hands from the ground as though to welcome the living to 
their gory beds. 

Our old brigade was broken up, and the Fifteenth regi- 
ment assigned to the second brigade of the third division, 
under Colonel Fearing, of the Eighth New Hampshire, and 
from him received orders to remove to the right. At 3 

Notes. 

Headquarters Department of the Gulf, 19TH Armv Corps, 
New Orleans, La., August 5, 1863. 
General Orders, ) 
No. 59. \ 

The commanding general takes great pleasine in communicating to the 
troops of this department the contents of tlie following despatch this day 
received from the (jeneral-in-Chief : 

Headquarters of the Ak.mv, 

VVashlngton, July 23, 1863 
iMajor-General Banks. New Orleans : 

General: Your despatches of July 8, announcing the surrender of 
Port Hudson, are received. I congratulate you and your armv on the 
croivjiing success of tlie cai/ipuit^ii. It was reserved for }our ai-m\- to 
strike the last blow for the opening of the Mississippi river. Tiie coun- 
try, and especially the great West, will ever remember with gratitude their 
services. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

H. W. Hallkck, 



Bv command of 



Richard B. Irwln, 

Assist atit Adjutant- General. 



Genera l-iu-C/iief. 
Major-General Banks. 



574 



The J'ifhrut/i Xc-,' Havipsliiir J 'oliintcc. 



o'clock i)w the morning of Saturday, the nineteenth, which 
pro\ccl to be a very hot day, with frequent showers, the regi- 
ment was called on line, ordered to pack up and be ready to 
move at a moment's notice. We were kept in waiting till 
near i i o'clock, and then marched into Port Hudson, where 
dead horses and mules were scattered o\cr the ground. 
Here a barrel of molasses was confiscated and made into 
candy. The regiment passed inside the works at twenty 
minutes past ii o'clock, and two companies — K and V — 
were deployed on guard on the enem\'s parapet. They 
were relieved at 5 o'clock by Companies H and C, but at 
night the regiment, except Company C, marched back to the 
old bivouac in the woods. The entrance was by the Mount 
Pleasant road, through the fresh and romantic valley wliich 
lay so fair beneath our eyes during hostilities, but which was 
forbidden grouml, and left to bloom and riot in verdure while 
evervwhere else all the land was laid waste, and worn and 
loaded with dust from the enormous tratfic of the arni}'. 
Men could now stand erect and breathe the free air once 
mcjre. The meandering brook was crossed by a rude bridge, 
and on all hands nature had carved out sheltered nooks and 
fairy grottoes, where strange shrubs and tiowers waxed and 
nodded in the wind. 

Jul\- 12, .Sundaw Pleasant, with light showers. Again, 
in the earl\' morning, orders were receixed to re])orl to 
Colonel PY^aring, acting l)rigadier-general, and await trans- 

NoTE. The .sick and wounded : 





Officers. 


Enlisted 
Men. 


Total. 


Tulv 10 


17 
15 


330 
343 


347 

35« 


julv 15 





Annj' Life at Port Hudson. 575 

portation down river, to act against the enemy at Donaklson- 
ville, at which point the}- had blockaded the ri\er, and with 
eighteen guns and five thousand men had held our onl}' line 
of communication for eight full da}s. Two di\isions of the 
besiegers, all its available force, had already embarked — Jul}- 
9, the very day of the surrender — on seven steamers at the 
landing at Port Hudson, with, it is said, fift\- ]:)ieces of 
artillery. Company C was relieved from guard, left Port 
Hudson at 5 o'clock in the morning, and after a march of 
three miles rejoined the regiment in the ra\ine, whence, three 
hours later, all mo\-ed five miles toward the right and 
bivouacked in a magnificent southern forest just in the rear 
of the Port Hudson defenses, where they arrived at i i o'clock. 
There were almost numberless huts and shanties here among 
the trees, of multifarious and unique design, such as a view 
of to-day would delight the hearts of architects and artists 
of all the world ; they would provoke a Roman consul to 
laughter. One indescribable structure on its front, in the 
most grotesque characters that ever astonished the human 
eye, bore the legend, " Hotel dn Starve. Dorbugs and baked 
beans a la Port Hudson." They were deserted now b}- human 
inhabitants, and the writer of this remembers taking ]x)sses- 
sion of one by right of discovery, but immediatel}- removing 
thence for innumerable " good and sufificient reasons." There 
was near at hand a 200-acre field of corn, which was now 
being cut up for forage. During a long search not a single 
stalk could be found that had not been visited and denuded 
of its roasting ears. Quantities of peaches were brought in 
and stewed for sauce. 

Company \i goes out on picket. 

Lieutenant Pickering gets fifteen days' leave of absence. 
Albert E. Wingate, Company G, died at Port Hudson. 
Albert E. Barney, the drummer boy of Company V, died at 
Port Hudson, in the hospital tent, just in the edge of the 



576 The luftcciith Xr7L' HciDipslnir \'oluntccrs. 

ex'cning. Captain (jordon had called to cheer him up. The 
boy said he was better, but immediately, as the cai)tain 
reached his own quarters, word followed him that Barney 
was no more. It seemed scarcely fi\e minutes after. The 
captain had some nei;roes dii;" his i;ra\e and la)' him tenderly 
therein, and then carxed his name on a rude headboard, 
which he set up to mark the spot. 

]\\\\ 13, Monday. Cool, and \er\- pleasant. The regiment 
is now doini;- picket dut}- onl)-, and the work is \ery light, 
requirini; onl)- two com}xmies at a time. They are enjo)-ing 
a \-er)' pleasant respite in the great woods ; it is two miles in 
rear of the parapet, and on the Baton Rouge roatl. The 
rations are much improx'cd ; we ha\e green corn, which is a 
great luxur)-; beans are baked in a row of camp-kettles 
which are buried in an excavation in the giound, their bot- 
toms resting on a bed of hot embers from hrcs which 
ha\e been maintained there, and which ha\e heated the 
adjacent earth to the baking jioint. \\\ those who listen, 
the)- can be heartl merril)' singing away, mingling their music 
with the innumerable voices of the night. The surrounding- 
country is very beautiful, and is explored b)- thousands. Many 
secure horses and mules and go about mountetl, and \-isit the 
neighboring ])lantations. Lieutenant Perkins was officer of the 
dax", and was on dutv two miles out, where he sjient some 
hours at a planter's house in conversation with the owner. 
Lieutenant-colonel Blair goes to hospital. Adjutant Pinkham 
returns from Carrollton, where he went several da)-s ago for 
some ])apers. Lieutenant Pickering, Company G, leaves 
camp for down ri\er ; took the cars for Carrollton. where he 
arri\cd at night, was taken sick with chills and lexer which 
held him there till the twentieth, when he stalled back to 
port lludsou, arrixing there on the l\\ent)--tirst . 

Lieutenant Parker is detailed to assist in paroling prisoners. 
He says: " After the surrender Colonel Blair sent for me 
ami ordered me to reiiort to, I tliiid<, Colonel Chickering, on 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 



S77 



a detail to assist in paroling prisoners. On reporting to him 
I was told that as soon as some other officer that was expected 
reported, we would be assigned. When he came he nearly 
took my breath away ; with a boiled shirt, white vest with 
military buttons, and a brand new uniform. He appeared to 
me like he had just come up from New Orleans for this 
special duty. When I sized myself up with him, I was simply 
seasick ; however, we went together and paroled some 





1ST SERGT. FRED B. WELLS— Co. F. 



•RED B. WELI.S. 



thousand or more of different regiments, and inmates in two 
hospitals. When we got through I mingled with the 
Johnnies, and became quite chummy with a young officer 
belonging, I think, to an Alabama regiment ; spent nearly the 
whole night talking over the situation, and it was he that 
asked what regiment it was that led the advance on the 
citadel on the fourteenth of June. I told him, and he 
could n't say enough in praise of the splendid appearance we 
made till we reached the ravine which broke our line of battle. 



578 The Fifteenth New Hajiipshire WTlnnteers. 

In the course of our talk he said he should go into the Con- 
federate service again as soon as he was regularly exchanged, 
'for,' said he, ' your people have got a couple of good horses 
that belong to me, and I will stick to this thing till I get 
them back.' Well, when we separated, about 2 a. m., he 
remarked, ' I wish we had something that we might exchange 
with each other as a reminder of our pleasant night.' I 
happened to think of a dollar greenback that I had in my 
pocket and handed it to him, for which I got a Confederate 
dollar. Mine I have yet, and I hope he also has his, but 
taking a Yankee view of it, think he got the best of the 
bargain." 

July 14, Tuesday. Commenced to rain last night, and was 
showery through the da)' ; the night was foggy. Major 
Aldrich is now in command of the regiment, and to-day visited 
Colonel Fearing, whom he found to be a xoxy agreeable and 
pleasant man ; also had an interview with General Banks, at 
his headquarters, in relation to the home-coming of the regi- 
ment. He seemed greatly interested in the matter. The 
general in conversation is very quiet and soft-spoken, and is 
a prince of courtesy and affability. 

Elias S. Whittier, Company C, died. 

July 15, Wednesday. \'ery hot in the forenoon and 
smoky, with slight showers and a good breeze in the after- 
noon. Major Aldrich went into Port Hudson and arranged 
with Quartermaster Colonel Chandler for transportation home 
by way of Cairo. Company K is on picket at a Mrs. Conly's 
plantation. A thousand cattle ha\e been gatlicred up and 
driven into the fort. A 250-acre field of corn is being cut 
on a neighboring plantation and hauled iuto the fort. There 
are thirty or forty 4-mule teams engaged in the work. The 
rich owner is reduced to absolute want, and begs hard bread 
from the soldiers to feed his wife and children. Every slave 
and servant, except the old and feeble, has deserted them and 



Anuj' Life at Port Hudson. 



579 



left them helpless. Upon the reopening of the great river, 
her vast commerce, which had been so long sus]-)encled, revived 
at once, and the first boat of a strictly peaceful mission, the 
"Imperial," passed down to-day amid the firing of salutes 
from our warships and general acclaim from the shore, and 
from now on they pass and repass as before the war. 

Lieutenant Durgin is 
very sick. James C. Thurs- 
ton, Company C, died. (.Sec 
page 487.) 

July 16, Thursday. \'ery 
fair and warm. Ordei> 
received detaching the reg- 
iment from Colonel Fear- 
ing's brigade and instruct- 
ing Major Aldrich to re- 
port to General Andrews, 
inside the fort. Marched 
soon after noon about two 
miles, and camped near the 
parapet at the left centre, 
being attached to Colonel 
Johnson's brigade, which 
is wholly composed of short- 
term men awaiting trans- 
portation home. Here they 
do light sentinel duty on ' ' ' 1 -in c. bi,ake-co. a. 

the parapet. 

Lieutenant-colonel Blair goes to New Orleans. The major 
is sent to Baton Rouge for tents. Lewis S. Bean, Company 
A, died. Wilder B. Grififin, Company B, died at l^aton 
Rouge. 

July 17, Friday. Hot, with showers at night. The major 
is very busy making preparations to go home. The detached 
and convalescents arrive freely in camp. We have hoe-cake 
and fried pork. All is very quiet. 



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58o 



The Fifteenth Xcii.' Hampshire W^/iinteers. 



July 1 8, Saturday. Very hot, with showers in the after- 
noon. Lieutenant Chadwick was sent to ISaton Rouge for 
the tents and baggage which were left behind on a transport 
at Springfield Landing. They arrived before noon and were 
pitched ; thus the regiment was once more sheltered, after 




FIRST SEROEANT TOWLE — Co. D. 

lying in the open air, through storm and sun, since May 20, 
a period of sixty days, forty-five of which it was constantly 
under fire. Major Aldrich received leave of absence to visit 
New Orleans on business. lie went by the "Crescent," at 
4 o'clock in the afternoon, to Baton Rouge, where he remained 
over night. 



Army Life at Port Hudson. 581 

Johnny Lancaster, Company D, died at Port Hudson ; 
Lieutenant Durgin visited Lancaster at 5 o'clock in the 
evening, and it must have been after that hour that he died, 
since his death occurred on this date. He was buried in a 
most romantic spot on a hill near the river under some grand 
old trees, and with the usual military honors. The coffin 
containing his remains was borne by four of his comrades, 
preceded by the band playing a funeral dirge, and followed 
by other comrades with reversed arms. As the coffin was 
lowered to its final resting place a volley was fired over the 
remains, the earth filled in, and he was thus sadly left alone. 
It is pleasant to reflect that the government for which he 
died has gathered up his remains and re-interred them, with 
many other fallen comrades, m a national military cemetery, 
where they now rest beneath the soft grass, and where they 
will be tenderly cared for and held in grateful remembrance 
forever. (See page 494.) 

July 19, Sunday. Very hot, with fine showers toward 
night. ]\Iajor Aldrich left Baton Rouge for New Orleans at 
7 o'clock in the afternoon. Lieutenant Durgin came to camp 
to-day; still sick. Those left sick at Carrollton came up river 
to-day. All quiet. 

Dexter F. Bradbury, Company F, died. 

July 20, Monday. Pleasant in the forenoon, with showers 
in the afternoon ; very hot. All is very quiet. Just two 
months since camp was broken at the parapet. Major 
Aldrich arrived in New Orleans at daylight and went thence 
to Carrollton, where he transacted business relating to tents 
and other matters, returned to New Orleans at 10 o'clock 
at night, and stayed at the St. Charles Hotel. l^Lvery house 
in Port Hudson is a hospital, and many are sick without 
shelter, lying on the ground. One of the saddest cases of 
this nature was the death to-day of Orderly Sergeant Ames, 
Company H, who died of diphtheria, lying on the ground, 



582 'f/ic I'iftc'cuf/i Xciv Hampshire ]\)linitccrs. 

and who, in his last hours, was in such ai;"on}' that he begged 
of his attendants to end his misery with his own revolver. 
He was one of the most faithful of comrades and soldiers, 
and had borne all the dangers and hardships of the siege. 
This was the last death in Company H before leaving for 
home, and the last act of the company, as a body, and the 
last time it was ever assembled for any duty, was when it 
bore his remains to a soldier's grave. He was buried on the 
twenty-first outside the works 
on the banks of the great river 
below oui old bivouac, and 
about where the stream from 
the ravines of Port Hudson 
enters. There was high ground 
there overlooking the water, 
with magnificent oaks and mag- 
nolias, isolated and in groups, 
a most beautiful and romantic 

spot. 

Thomas G. .Ames was born 
in Holderness, November, 1841 ; 
his mother died when he was four 
years old, and his father some 

SEROKANT AMKS— Co. H. " .^ l tt 11 

)ears afterward. He worked 
on a farm in the summer and went to school in the winter, 
or taught school, until lie was seventeen years old; after 
that, until he went into the army, he taught in Campton 
several terms. lie went to the high school in Campton, 
Plymouth, and North field, and was fitting himself for college 
when he enlisted. ihere is a monument raised to his memory 
in the Trinil)- burial ground, Holderness. 

Cai)tain Osgood came to camp in bad condition ; his leg is 
not healed, and he may lose it. 




Army Life at Port Hudson. 



583 



July 21, Tuesday. Very hot, with Hght showers at nii^ht. 
All quiet. There is some light guard duty. Major Aldrich 
returned to Carrollton from New Orleans and made prepara- 
tions to rejoin the regiment with the regimental baggage and 
what convalescents were able to go ; labored hard all night 
loading the freight on shipboard. Lieutenant Pickering 
returned to camp sick. 

Company K was called out 
at 4 o'clock in the morning to 
relieve the guard of the Fifty- 
second Massachusetts, wdiich was 
about to embark for home. 

Private Whittemore, Company 
E, visited his comrade, John 
Hodgman, who was severely 
wounded June 14 ; he found 
him very feeble, but in good 
spirits. Whittemore, with thir- 
teen others, bore Hodgman to 
camp on his cot, a distance of 
three miles. 

Lysander Wyman was badly 
burned with powder, and also 
the drummer boy. Perry, nearly 

lost his life by an exploding shell which some one threw on 
the fire in play. 

William W. Dustin, Company F, died of wounds received 
June I I. (See page ig.) 

Austin Washburn was severely injured in the battle of 
May 27, and sent to hospital at Baton Rouge ; was paralyzed 
and barely escaped being buried alive. The nurses reported 
him dead, and he was about to be removed to the dead house, 
but he, aware of their intentions, succeeded in moving slightly, 
and thus indicated to them that he was still alive. He rallied 
and came home. 




JOHN E. PRESTON— Co. H. 
See Roll of Dead, page 27. 



584 ihc I'lftccnth Xc7V HanipsJiirc W^luntccrs. 

Dick R()i;crs was detailed to shoe mules just before i;oing 
up ri\er ; he was kicked by one and severely injured, from 
which he ne\'er recovered. 

July 22, Wednesday. Fair, \-ery hot and dusty ; at night 
there was a terrific blow and shower. The regiment was 
called on line and manoeuvered lightly, and held a sort of 
" dress parade " for the last time. Company G, Lieutenant 
Ayers in command, goes to the lower landing to do provost 
duty and to guard boats. 

Lieutenant I'arker ^•isits Carrollton and New Orleans on 
business connected with the regimental baggage. 

July 23, Thursday. Continued pleasant and hot. The 
Fifty-second Massachusetts left for home. Major Aldrich 
arrived at noon from below on the " H. Chotean," with the 
regimental baggage, and all the afternoon was spent unload- 
ing the boat and preparing to leave. All the sick that are 
able have rejoined the regiment. Lieutenant Durgin better. 
Lieutenant Perkins and Captain Stearns taken sick. I-^rank 
A. Colby, Company E, died. 

July 24, Friday. Very warm ; showery toward evening. 
The Twenty-fourth Maine leaves for home. Preparing to 
turn over our arms and government property. Major Aldrich 
made a personal visit to officials at headquarters, and wps 
promised that the regiment should leave for home in a very 
few days. Lieutenant Parker reached Baton Rouge by the 
"St. Maurice," where he visited Colonel Kingman for an 
hour. Alba Noyes, Company K, died. 

Note. All of Company D's sick and disabled rejoined company, 
except Captain Johnson and C. \\. While, who returned later on the lios- 
pital boat " St. Mary.' 



TJic Hovicivard Trip. 585 

The Homeward Trip. 

The twenty-fifth of July was a very pleasant but hot clay, 
with a good refreshing breeze stirring. At 2 o'clock in the 
afternoon orders were received to turn over all our govern- 
ment property, and with ten days' rations, to embark on the 
river steamer " City of Madison," for Cairo, 111., and thence 
proceed by rail by way of Chicago to Concord, N. H. Com- 
pany G was now doing guard and provost duty at the lower 
landing. Lieutenant Ayers in command. At camp all 
guards were relieved on receipt of the order, and at 4 o'clock 
the regiment marched a mile to a large and one-time substan- 
tial brick house, now completely riddled, where all equip- 
ments were given up, and all guns but twenty-five, which 
were reserved for emergencies on the trip up the river; tents 
were struck and turned over, as were also the cooking utensils. 
The regiment then marched to the boat, about two miles, 
and at midnight were safely aboard, with all the sick 
and wounded except such as were too enfeebled. A few 
were thus sadly left behind, and among them poor Captain 
Johnson, in the hospital, with its snow-white sheets and 
smells of chemicals and drugs, at Baton Rouge, in a very 
feeble and critical condition, where he had lately been called 
upon by Adjutant Pinkham. The captain was then observed 
to be emaciated and feverish, his pale face blotched with 
heat spots ; and as showing something of the nature of such 
a soldier's heart, it is related that he pulled the adjutant's 
face down to his own cheek and for a moment held it there, 
thus by a stroke of nature expressing some deep emotion of 
the human soul that is either too sacred or too fine to be 
spoken aloud in this tell-tale world. 

The lieutenant-colonel, in care of the late Edward P. 
Banks, Company K, a relative of the general, was carried 
aboard absolutely helpless of body and delirious of mind, and 
just after the boat got fairly under way gave his last order 



586 



The FiftccntJi Xcz<.< HanipsJiirc Wilutitccrs. 



as a military commander, to wit, that the band should take 
position three rods in rear of the boat and play the national 
airs. 

Major Aldrich was in command, and found it an all-ni<4ht 
task, with heavy details of men, before the commissary stores 
were loaded and every preparation made. And now the reaper 
death, as will be seen, redoubled his energies, and one of the 
saddest of all our sad deaths, was that of Lewis W. Sinclair, 
Company E, who was a sentinel on duty at the regimental 
line, and who, just as orders were received relieving him for 
the homeward trip, fell to the ground dead, and was buried 
then and there without ceremonies, just as the regiment 
moved away ; and almost at the same moment Charlie Cramm, 
Company C, died at the regimental hospital. Alba Noyes, 
Company K, was buried. 

The Sick and Wounded. 



Date. 


Officers. 


Non-commis- 
.sioned officers. 


Privates. 


Totals. 


July 1 8 


14 


26 


293 


333 


19 


15 


26 


293 


334 


20 


16 


31 


276 


323 


21 


>5 


28 


261 


304 


22 


12 


22 


212 


246 


23 


II 


20 


218 


249 


24 


9 


22 


1S5 


216 


25 


10 


18 


170 


198 


26 


12 


25 


176 


213 


27 


12 


25 


179 


216 


28 


13 


28 


176 


217 


29 


'3 


3' 


171 


215 


30 


14 


29 


171 


214 


31 


12 


39 


'63 


214 


Aii-.;ust I 


II 


28 


199 


238 


2 


10 


31 


186 


227 




I 



The Homcivard Trip. 587 

July 26, Sunday. A Farewell, Port Hudson. Great clouds 
very hot day, with 1 of black smoke ascend from the fun- 
showers. I nels, and there is a deafening roar of 
escaping steam from her safety valves, 
as she stands waiting for the race and trembling in all her 
frame, when at 9.45 o'clock in the morning the engineer 
opens wide the steamer's throttle and she falls off into the 
middle of the stream and begins the ascent of the mighty 
river. It is a happy event on many accounts, but tinged 
with an almost overwhelming sadness because of the dead 
left behind, the sick and wounded and dying there, as well 
as those aboard. The cabins are covered with them, and the 
great steamer fairly groans with her burden. Eighty-six of 
those aboard will be claimed by the reaper, Death, before 
they reach their Northern homes, or immediately thereafter. 
Passed the mouth of the Red river just before sunset, in a 
violent shower, attended with a most wonderful electrical 
display, the vivid lightning chains incessantly darting about, 
and crinkling and lacing the whole heavens. The winding 
and deeply wooded shores are enchanting as Eden ; here the 
grim monster " Mohawk," and another warship, guard its 
mouth. The Twenty-sixth Connecticut, which had shared 
with us all our hardships and battles, and bled so freely in the 
great cause, started in our company on the *' St. Maurice," 
and kept us company on the voyage. The Twenty-sixth 
Maine also started with us on the " J. \V. Cheeseman," but 
soon dropped behind. After a most delightful trip the " City 
of Madison " reached Natchez at 6 
o'clock in the morning, where she lay 
till noon taking in coal. This famous 
southern city was visited and greatly 
admired for the beauty of its situation, its quiet homes 
embowered in tropical verdure, and the flowers that bloom in 
profusion there — the queenly "Pride of China" and the 



July 27, Monday. 
Showery and very 
hot in the afternoon. 



588 The Fifteenth Xeio Hampshire W^lmiteers. 

" Cape Flower." Surely, this is Arcadie, a land of peace and 
plenty, a garden and sanctuary for all the world, if man 
would but forget his enmities, his greed and ambitions, and 
love his neighbor as himself. It is principally on a bluff, one 
hundred and fifty feet in sheer height, with a small fringe 
below at the water's edge, and thus divided by the great 
natural rampart into " Natchez under the Hill" and "Natchez 
on the Hill." l^ut it is blighted by war now, and deep 
sorrow broods in every house, for all its citizens capable of 
bearing arms joined the Confederates, and have been slain 
by scores and hundreds, and nex'er will return to gladden 
those deserted homes. It is under martial law ; its stores 
are closed ; an "iron-clad" lies in the river on guard like a 
mighty sentinel, ready to belch forth her thunders at any 
moment. Left at 12.30 o'clock, and just as the boat cast off 
her lines death claimed her first victim, and tlie lifeless body 
of Moses E. Eastman, Company H, was hastily borne to the 
shore and left there rolled in his blanket, to be buried by 
strangers. He was a mere boy, and died lying on the bare 
deck where hundreds tramped around him. Just before he 
breathed his last he gave a smile of recognition to his 
comrade, McGregor, but could not speak even in a whisper 
or lift his hand. He had been long in the hospital, and was 
as white as the winter snow, while those who participated in 
the siege were swarthy as the Turk. " Death lay on him 
like an untimely frost on the fairest tiower of all the field." 
Passed General Pillow's ])lantati()n at 5 o'clock, and Rodney, 
Miss., at 6, and at midnight, Benjamin V. Swain, Company D, 
a mere scho()ll)o\-, died of the fever. The boat ran on a shoal 
in the night, but after a little delay was gotten off, and soon 
thereafter was snorting past Grand Gulf, her furnaces lighting 
up her great volumes of escaping smoke and steam like clouds 
of tire. 1 ler lioarse whistles blew at frec|uent interxals. \'icks- 
burg, the (jibraltar of the great Rebellion, was reached at 5 



The Hovici^Hird Trip. 589 

July 28, Tuesday, l o'clock in the morning, and the steamer 
lay here till 7 in the afternoon. She 
crossed the river to coal, and while there a thunder storm 
and a hurricane of wind arose that swept several l^oats from 
their moorings and dashed them about the river, and among 
them our attendant companion, the "St. Maurice." Branches 
from trees on the shore were broken off and strewed upon 
our decks. There were twenty-seven steamers lying here, 
and several gunboats, and much other shipping continually 
coming and going. Vicksburg, on its high bluffs, made a 
beautiful appearance, but was greatly damaged by shot and 
shell. Benjamin V . Swain was buried here on the shore 
opposite the city, and death seized another victim, the poor 
boy, George F. Young, Company I, who had been safely 
through all the battles of Port Hudson. He was rolled in his 
blanket and buried just behind the levee. 

The voyage was resumed at 7 o'clock, and the full, round 
moon lit up the river and all its wooded shore with weird 
beauty till i o'clock, when a dense fog rose from the water. 



July 29, Wednesday. 
Cloudy morning till 10 
o'clock, after which it 
was cool and delio:htf ul. 



during which the boat tied up to the 
land for an hour or two. Reached 
Lake Providence at 10 o'clock, and 
waited there two hours, when the 
shore was visited and purchases 
made of melons, peaches, apples, and bread. A delightful 
place, with a beautiful name, but wearing now a visage of 
war with its cotton breastworks and fortifications. Here, again, 
death claimed his victim, Harlan P. Oilman, Company A, died of 
the fever, and Horace A. Burley, Company H, soon after mid- 
July 30, Thursday. 

The boat drew up to land in the morn- 
ing, and Oilman and Burley were both 
buried there at Milliken's Bend, on 
an island in the dense woods a little below the mouth 
of the Arkansas river. At 11.30 o'clock entered the mouth 



Very pleasant, with 
a cool breeze. 



July 31, Friday, 
Cool and cloudy. 



590 The FiftccntJi Xcw Havipshirc I'oliiiitccrs. 

of the mi<(hty Arkansas, and passed through a cut-off at 
Napoleon, into the Mississippi again, saving a distance of 
thirteen miles. At 1.30 passed the mouth of the White 
river ; there were seven gunboats and three packets here. 
At 3 o'clock passed a fleet of seven steamers, loaded with 
guns and hospital stores. At 4 o'clock passed the sidewheel 
packet "Emma," bound for New Orleans. At 5 o'clock 
passed Laconia, Ark. Sergeant Stevens, Company K, 
watched by Colonel Blair through the day and was relieved 
at night ; the colonel is worse. Reached Helena, Ark., at 
3.30 o'clock in the morning, and made 
a stop there of two hours and a quarter 
and procured provisions and ice for 
the sick. There is a long range of high bluffs back of the 
village which bristle with fortifications. Sergeant Stevens 
visited the village and purchased some ice and wine for 
Colonel Blair. There is a large force here, and a fleet of 
steamers and warships. At 5.45 o'clock the "Madison" 
pursued her way, and passed the steamer "Polar Star" 
at about 10 o'clock. At 1.30 o'clock passed gunboat 
No. 25, with a lot of horses on board. A small force of 
soldiers was seen, who were thought to be guerrillas, and 
the boat began to put about, but they proved to be dressed 
in the army blue. At 3 o'clock passed a small river steamer, 
and at 4 o'clock met the steam tug " Dinah." At 6.30 o'clock 
passed the steamer " David," with Illinois cavalry aboard. 
Sergeant Stevens took care of Colonel Blair all day ; he 
was very sick and lay in a doze on the cabin floor with 
many others. Iliram .S. Baker. Compan)- C, la}' by his side. 
The great reaper gathered in four to-day, John V.. Tarbell, 
Company A, and James Sanborn, Company D, for whom 
coffins were procured at Helena, and they were buried there 
on the bank of the river. John Stewart, Company C, and 
William H. Johnson, Company K, died in the afternoon, as 



The Homcivard Trip. 591 

the boat was approaching the beautiful southern metropoHs of 
Memphis, where she arrived at 7 o'clock in the evening, and 
left thirty of the sick, of whom nineteen died, and with Johnson 
made twenty, who lie there in the United States Military 
Cemetery. The nineteen were Jonah Camp, Absalom Ford, 
Hylas Hackett, Company B; John Bishop, Stephen C. Church, 
John Stewart, Dan B. Gage, Company C ; William T. 
Stevens, Walter G. Brackett, Company D ; Jonathan l>ur- 
bank, Henry Butterfield, Company E ; Almon S. Church, 
John Marcott, Gilbert J. Robie, Company F ; John S. Whid- 
den, Company G ; John J. Smith, Went worth Willey, Com- 
pany I ; Isaac N. Clough, George M. D. Mead, Company K. 
Although Johnson and Stewart both died on the " City of 
Madison," Stewart is accounted as having died at Memphis. 
He dropped dead on the boat's deck at 3 o'clock in the after- 
noon. The boat left Memphis at 3 o'clock in the morn- 
August I, Saturday. | i"S» ^^tl after proceeding six miles 
Cool and cloudy morn- j the breaking down of her pump 
ing, followed by a day necessitated her mooring to the 
of terrible heat. shore, which she did on the Arkan- 

sas side, and await there while the 

engineer made his way back to Memphis and returned with 
the necessary repairs, a space of some ten hours. The engi- 
neer went down by the boat's yawl, but returned on a steam 
tug. Along the water's <i(\^^q. there was a narrow beach of 
white, clean, musical quick-sand, which was firm as solid 
rock if one stepped carefully on it, but with the least dis- 
turbance of its particles under the heel it would give way and 
let one in to his ankles. The immediate shore was covered 
with a light growth of Cottonwood, which seemed to draw 
down the sun's excessive heat on its sparse and tremulous 
leaves and increase its intensity, as the trees, while checking 
the light winds, afforded no perceptible shade to the ground 
beneath. All who were well enough went ashore, and instantly 



592 The I'lftcoith .Wti' Haiiipshiir W'lniitccrs. 

it became a populous and busy place. There was washinj^- and 
cooking on the beach, and explorations far and wide. There 
was a cotton field just over the levee, and negroes hoeing there ; 
the cotton was just in bloom, and back of this a large field of 
corn. But we were in a dangerous situation. Guerrillas 
infested the land. Pickets with our twenty-five guns were 
thrown far out by Major Aldrich, and it was surmised that the 
" City's " captain was a disunionist, and that he may have 
purposely disabled the boat. Soon after the accident a patrol 
gunboat, steaming rapidly down the river with its current, drew 
close up, and its captain inquired of the major if he were armed. 
Aldrich replied, " No ; that he had only twenty-five rifles." 
The captain said, " You'll be gobbled up as sure as h — 11." 
He laid his boat up to the touch of rails and waited there till the 
repairs were made, and the " City" resumed her way. This 
was probably a very narrow escape from capture, as a horse- 
man rode up to the sergeant of our picket and inquired if 
there were troops on the boat, and if so what troops, and 
if they were armed. He then rode off with great rapidity, 
and soon thereafter a considerable body of horsemen 
appeared in the distance ; but the saucy gunboat had 
arrived meantime. While waiting here death claimed another 
victim, Hiram S. Baker, Company C, who expired lying 
beside Colonel Blair on the deck of the steamer's cabin. His 
remains were taken to the Tennessee shore and buried on a 
bluff under a large tree, Comrade E. B. Huse carving his 
name on a rude headboard which was set up, and also on the 
tree, which extended its branches over his grave. He had 
been the bass drummer, and afterwards served as hospital 
steward at division headquarters. Dan B. Gage, of the 
same company, died at Memphis. The steamer's fires were 
drawn during the repairs, and drenched with buckets of 
water, a gang of negro roustabouts working away like beavers 
thereat. Steam was up again, and the boat throbbing in 



The Hovici^'ard Trip. 



593 



every part, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when with sexeral 
tremendous blasts of her whistles she again turned her prow 
to the middle of the stream and moved on up the river, but 
scarcely had she made a mile when the packing blew out of 
one of her cylinders causing, however, but a few moment's 
delay. She made a splendid run through the night of about 
one hundred miles. The sick in the cabin seemed to be 



much better. Passed Fort Wright 
at 1 o'clock in the morning, and the 
"J. B. Hillman ' and the United 
States mail steamer "Magellan," 
an half hour later, Osceola at 
9 o'clock in the morning. New 
Madrid at 5 o'clock in the after- 
noon. Island No. 10 at sunset. 
The steamer " Louisville " lies here ; the " White Cloud " is 
passed, and many others. Hickman is passed at midnight. 
At Columbus, as the boat was passing at 1.30 o'clock in the 
morning, blanks were fired by guns ashore, compelling her to 
August3, Monday. Cool P^^^ i" and report. Cairo was 



August 2, Sunday. Very 
pleasant all day. Isaac N. 
Clough (or Cluff), Com- 
pany K, John S. Whidden, 
Company G, and William 
T. Stevens, Company D, 
died at Memphis. 



reached at 4 o'clock in the morn- 
ing, just at daybreak. Two freight 
trains stood in waiting here, side 
by side, with a narrow space be- 
tween, one for the Fifteenth New 
Hampshire, and the other for the 
Twenty-si.xth Connecticut, to 
which the regimental baggage was 
transferred, and the men took up 
their quarters within, and then in 
great numbers mounted the roofs. 
There was a passenger car with 

our train for the officers. Five of the sick were left here. 

During the stay here there was great frolicking among the 



morning, with a very fine 
shower. George A. Page, 
Company B, died at Cairo ; 
Wentworth W^illey, Com- 
pany I, at Memphis ; 
Henry N. Brown, Com- 
pany K, at Mound City ; 
Henry Butterfield, Com- 
pany E, and Gilbert J. 
Robie, Company F, at 
Memphis. 



594 ^/'''^ Fifteenth New Hampshire I 'o/imteers. 





STEPHEN C. CHURCH— Co. C. JAMES G. MORRISON— Co. H. 

(See Roll of Dead.) (See page 25.) 





wii.i.iAM N. ,-. ri:\ i:ns— Co. c. 

(Sec Roll of Dead.) 



The Hoinciuard Trip. 595 

boys. " Pizarinktum " and many others were enthusiastic on 
reachinij; what was then very appropriately designated as 
God's country, and were soon highly qualified to celebrate 
the happy exent. The Connecticut boys were equally happy, 
and before the trains pulled out there was a most amusing- 
scene at fisticuffs between members of the tw(; regiments m 
the space between. A member of the l^venty-si.xth, on the 
top of their train, shaking his fist at one of ours, claimed to 
have led the Fifteenth in the battle of Ma}' 27, which our 
boy very emphatically denied. In their felicitous state that 
was enough ; they immediately jumped to the ground and 
went to pummelling each other with great spirit. The affair 
was eagerly watched, and when one was seen to be getting 
worsted a comrade of his went down to his assistance, but 
this made two on one, and so, to even up, another of the 
opposite side went down, till quite a few were there engaged 
in the affair in the most lively manner. It grew fast, and 
separated into different rings, and began to assume a serious 
appearance, when to end it our train was started a distance 
up the track, necessitating a great scramble on the part of 
our champions to get aboard. However, as all things have 
an end, the delay here finally terminated, and the homewarcj 
journey was resumed at an hour or so before noon, the roofs 
of the cars black with the boys, many of them with their legs 
dangling down the sides, the long train presenting a scene of 
great festivity. Major Aldrich went in advance to Chicago, 

- 'T- 1 A by express. Slei^t on the car 

August 4, Tuesday. A ^-' , , , , , • 

floors, heads and heels, just cover- 
ing them at close touch, in great 
comfort. The boys are up early 
on the roofs eating their hard 
bread and enjoying the scene. It 
is an observation train, and is 
passing rapidly through the prairie 
garden of the world, a seemingly 
boundless ocean of level lands 



beautiful, cool morning ; 
cloudy toward night, with 
appearance of showers. 
Refreshing breeze on the 
train. Absalom Ford, 
Company B, and John 
Bishop, Company C, died 
at Memphis. 



596 The Fifteenth Xei.' Hamf^shire ]\)Iit)itecrs. 



r 





Sib. 



\-> 




i 



;uOT. HKNKY R. RROWN-Co. G. 



The HoDicioard Trip. 597 

Serct. Hexrv R. ]^i<()\vn. 

Henry R. Brown was born in Loudon, N. H., March 11, 
1 84 1. He attended the public schools until the age of 
fourteen, then entered Loudon Academy, where he studied 
to become a civil engineer. Disappointed in obtaining a 
satisfactory situation in that profession, he gave it up, and 
commenced the study of medicine in 1862 with Dr. W. S. 
Collins. On the seventh of September of that year, he 
enlisted in Company G, Fifteenth New Hampshire Volun- 
teers. At the expiration of his term of service he resumed 
the study of medicine, and graduated at the New Hampshire 
Homoeopathic College in March, 1867. The same month he 
commenced practising in Waterbury, Conn., in partnership 
with Dr. E. C. Knight ; removed to Leominster, Mass., in 
July, 1867, where, with the exception of two and a half )-ears 
that he was away on account of ill health, he has been 
located ever since. 



598 The Fifteenth Xe7^' Hampshire I 'oliinteers. 

bearinij; an endless wealth of heaven's bounty, and waving- 
with fields of corn. It is dotted with white homes and 
villages, set round with trees as far as the horizon, where 
earth and hea\en meet. It is a part of the great globe where 
an extinct race have lived and died and left as their only 
memento fragments of pottery and mounds of great extent, 
whose use and meaning cannot be known, some of which are 
constructed on the lines of reptiles, or other animals, with 
open mouths apparently about to seize an egg or other food, 
which in itself is often quite a little hill. Hence " Mound 
City " derived its name, of surpassing beauty and suggestive- 
ness. Reached DuOuoine at 6.30 o'clock ; Ashley at 7 ; 
Richview at 8 ; Centralia at 9 — changed engines ; Odin at 
9.30; Kinmundy at 10.30; Farina, Kdgewood at i i ; Mason, 
Watson, Effingham at 12; Neoga at 12.30; Matoon at 1.30, 
where during a brief stop the citizens surrounded the train, 
bringing coffee and refreshments ; Clinton, Stanton at 2 ; 
Areola at 2.30; Tuscola at 3.20; Weston, Pesotim at 4; 
Champaign at 5.30, where seemingly the whole populace turned 
out, and hundreds of ladies flocked around laden with coffee 
and tea, milk and cake, jellies, pies, fruits, and all an.xious to 
see the sick and wounded — who, except those left en route, are 
all aboard — and minister to their needs; many ladies were 
moved to tears by the spectacle. We were the first troops 
to return from actual service, and wiih the many weak and 
pale ones ti-oni iItc hospitals, and the bronzed veterans right 
from the trenches and battle-fields of Port Hudson, must, to 
them, have i)resented a sorry sight. The citizens were all 
ablaze with patriotic fires and a spirit that would ne\-er be 
conquered nor see their country fall. The flags, torn by shot 
and shell, were flung to the breeze and looked upon with 
wonder by old and young. Left Champaign about 6. and 
sped on througli the night. Passed Ranton at 6.30. and 
another beautiful village just at night. Slept " heads and 



I 



I 



The Homczvard Trip. 



599 



%. 



<^ 




CAPTAIN PINKHAM— Co I. 



6oo 



The FiftcctitJi Xc^v Hainpshiir \ 'oluiitccrs. 



heels," or " heads and hauls," as some call it, where the space 
would admit, but in more crowded conditions heads all one 
way, or " spoon fashion," which was a faxorite method with 
soldiers, but in which one could not turn except all did, and 
thoui;h used to a hard bed, it was necessary to change quite 
often, and thus originated the mock military commands, 
"Right spoon," and "Left spoon." One could scarce 
imagine with what a comical gravity these orders could be 
given by some of the boys, and with what alacrity and pre- 
cision they would be obeyed. Chicago was reached at i o'clock 



on the morning of the fifth, where 
some sought beds in hotels to 
pass the rest of the night. 
Changed to passenger cars, and 
left Chicago at 8 o'clock in the 
morning. The major reached 
the great lake city in ad\"ance of 
the regiment, and remained be- 
hind there arranging matters 
relating to the transportation of 
the regiment and the commuta- 
tion of rations. Miller was reached 
at 9.30 o'clock ; Laporte at i 1 .30, 
and anotlier grand ovation ; South 
Ik'nd at 1, where the train was 
stopped and the regiment again 
regaled with fiuit and e\ery kind 
of refreshments ; h^lkhart at 2 ; 
White Pigeon at 4, where the train was again stopped for a 
few moments to gi\e the citizens an opj^ortunity to show their 
enthusiasm and patriotism. Bronson was reached at 4.30 ; 
Coklwater at 5 ; Hillsdale at 6.30, where also all the good people 
turned out, tlie ladies largeK' predominating, as \ery man}- of 
their men folks were in the arnn' and still at the front, and 



August 5, Wednesday. 
Cool morning, with a slight 
shower. Hylas Hackett, 
Company B, died at Mem- 
phis, and W. W. Taylor, 
an old man of Company D, 
who "toted" water at 
the parapet and brought 
food to the boys in the 
rifle pits at Port Hudson, 
was left in hospital at 
Chicago, and died there 
this day. J( 
Company C 
Mound City, 
cott, Com])any \\ at Mem 
phis. 



lah Swam, 

died at 

John Mar- 



TJie Homcivard Trip. 



60 1 




MR. JOHN DICKEY, one of the patriotic citizens of Londonderry. (See page 93.) 



602 



The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire I \^limteers. 



among them the Sixth Michigan, which was in our own brigade ; 
Adrian at 8 in the evening — changed engines ; Toledo, O., at 
lo, where hot coffee was served by throngs of citizens, who 
welcomed the regiment as concjuering heroes. It is very 
noticeable what fine looking, whole-souled and patriotic people 
all these are, and one feels that a country made up of such is 
well worth sustaining at any cost ; changed cars here ; there 
was a shower in the night. Left Toledo an hour and a half 





CHARI^KS 



August 6, Thursday. A past michiight, stopped at Kish- 
very beautiful day. (ieo. man's at 5 to wood and water, 
T. Jackson, Com]:)any v\, and arri\ed at Cleveland at S ; 
died at Mound Cit}-, Jonah 
Camp, Company W, at 
Memphis, Jacob VVillard, 
Company /\, on the train 
at Dunkirk, and John C. 
Mason, Com[)any (i, at 
Cleveland. 



lett at 9. Reached I'ains\ille at 
10, Kings\ille at ii.:;o, where a 
stop was made tor wootl and 
water. The load for many miles 
skirts the margin of the great 
lake, and at a considerable eleva- 
tion abo\e its deep sea-blue waters, 
which stretch away into the north- 



The Homci^'ard Trip. 



603 








CORP. JAMES W. GOODHUE— Co. D. SERGT. J. J. SWAIN— Co. D. 



I 





GRANVILLE P. PATCH— Co. E. 



XOAH M, WI^EKS— Co. A. 
(See page 425 ) 



6o4 The Fiftcoith Xciv HampsJiirc Wilutitccrs. 

eni distance till they \anish from the si(;ht. Many steamers 
are seen, and ships with snowy sails are stooping and bending 
over the broad expanse, and on the other hand are the richest 
lands of earth with all their scenes of thrift and beauty. 
Arrived at Erie, Pa., at 12, where a dinner was served to the 
regiment by the citizens, and wines and all kinds of delicacies 
to the sick and wounded. Buffalo was reached at 5, and 
there the regiment was conducted to a large hall where a 
banquet was in waiting, said to ha\e been provided by the 
city ; a number of sick were left here. Left at 7, with the 
body of Jacob W'illard, Company A — who died at Dunkirk, 
N. Y., aboard the train — lying on a railroad truck, rolled in 
its blanket. The train reached Syracuse at 6 o'clock in the 

Au<'"ust 7 Fridav A J iiiorning of the seventh, where 
fine day. Cyrus Burbick, Major Aldrich rejoined it, having 
Company B, and Benj. F. come by express from Chicago; 
Burnham, Company C, Albany at i p. m. ; changed cars 
died at Chicago. | ^'^^^ ^^ft at 4.30 ; passed through 

Springfield, Mass., at 10 in the 

evening ; Worcester at an hour or two past midnight of the 
morning of the eighth, Saturda}', when cars were changed ; 
left Worcester about 4, passed through Nashua about 6, and 
arrived at Concord at 8, in a rain storm. Here the disabled 
were sent to hospitals, and a small portion of the regiment 
was marched o\er to the old camp-ground across the river, to 
the old barracks, but many, feeling that their duty was done, 
sought the first means of conveyance home without awaiting 
the ordinary military formalities. 

It is (loubttul if any Xew Hampshire regiment, on its 
arrival from the seat of war, presented so sorry a plight as 
the I'ifteenth. It had withstood all the perils of the malarial 
regions of the Louisiana low lands, its fevers, and nameless 
climatic pestilences, and in addition thereto borne the very 
brunt of the most exacting service, and in many respects the 



The Homcii-'ard Trip. 



60^ 



severest and most proloni;ccl siege of the war. The sick, by 
the long journey home, were jaded to the last degree. Of 
the officers, the lieutenant-colonel was conveyed to a hotel and 
lay for a long time there perfectly helpless from his wounds 
and other disabilities, and did not recover so as to be able for 




CAPTAIN COGSWRLL— Co. A. 



any work for two full years. Captain Cogswell, who was, 
when in health, a very large man. weighed now only one 
hundred and six pounds, and his only brother, searching for 
him at the station on his arrival, did not recognize him. 
Lieutenant Wyatt was one of the badly wounded. Captain 
Johnson was left behind at Baton Rouge. Captain Gordon 



6o6 



The Fifteenth Xcic Hampshire J \yluiitecrs. 



was comi^lctcly prostrated, and lay two weeks in bed at Con- 
cord before going home, and a full year passed before he could 
walk without assistance. Captain Osgood's wound was in 
bad condition. Captain Sanborn and Lieutenant Perkins were 
both very sick men, and Lieutenant Wallingford, and very 




GOVlCKNt'K ClUMOKli. 



many of the sick and wounded men, were merely breathing 
skeletons, unable to walk or even stand upon their feet with- 
out assistance. All soon alighted or were removed from the 
cars. There were none in the station at Concord to receive 
the regiment, it having arrived unannounced, but the bustling 
Governor Gilmore soon appeared there, and burst into tears 
at the siL;ht before him. Cannon were discharged, and soon 



Tlic Hamcivard Trip. 



607 




A. C. HAINES — Co. D. 





LIEUTENANT DURGIN— Co. D. 



LIEUTENANT DURGIN. 



6o8 The FiftcoitJi Ncio ilampsliiir W^luittccrs. 

all the good people of Concord appeared on the scene and did 
everything possible for all who needed their ministrations. 
Thirty-five were conveyed to the city hall, which was converted 
into a military hospital. The following account of the arrival 
is from one of the Concord papers : 

()ii Satur(la\' morning, .August 8. i<S63, Ijetween 8 and g o'clock, a 
cannon (lischar<iecl near the railroad station, announced the arrival of the 
Fifteenth Reyinient, New Hampshire X'olunteers, Colonel Kingman. 
Large numijers of people hastened to the scjuare. and soon the long line 
of cars were run along side of the platforms in the station, and soon 
mutual congratulations passed between those inside and outside of the 
cars. The regiment was in an exhausted condition, and the number of 
sick large, while several died on the homeward journey. Soon as ]jracti- 
cable, the men in marching condition were escorted to camp, and the 
sick conveyed to the city hall, where a military hospital was soon estab- 
lished, with thirty-tiye inmates. The people of the city sent supplies, and 
men and women collected as volunteers to aid in those services of which 
they . had heard so much and seen so little. This is the first ocular 
demonstration in this city of the effect of a lervid climate and exhausting 
military services, with all the j)rivations incident to conflict in a distant 
portion of the country, upon the men of the North, and deepenetl the 
already abiding conviction of the extent of the calamity in which the 
nation was ]ilunged. 

On the day of the arri\-al, John Richardson, Company U, died 
at Concord, and on the ninth, l)a\"id S. Huse, Company G, 
died at Mound City, 111. ; William Nudd, Company I, died 
at I^xeter ; h^-ancis A. Oaks, Company C, at Benton ; and 
Jolm \V. Millen, Company C, at Bath. On the tenth, all who 
were able had gone home. There died this day Harlan P. 
Sanborn, Company H, at Sanbornton ; William L. Stanton, 
Company K, at Buffalo; Walter G. Brackctt, Company I), at 
Memphis; John C. Smith, Company \\, at Mollis; Royal 
Boynton, Company A, at Lake Village ; and Levere L. 
Duplessus, Company E, at New Orleans. On the eleventh a 
festival was held in the state house yard in honor of the Fifth 
and Fifteenth regiments, of which the following account was 
published in the Statcsvian : 



The Homeward Trip. 



609 




CAPTAIN JOHN W. EI,A — Co. 



6io 



The Fifteenth Neiv Hampshire J^ohuiteers. 



Tlie day was clear but quite warm. The decorations were maiiv, beau- 
tiful, and appropriate. The "gorgeous ensign of the Republic" was 
properly the central figure of tliem, and distributed more plentifully than 
on any other fete day this year. The State House was decorated, together 
with the front gate, while the national flag floated from the staff above the 
dome. The liberty pole was decked with a multitude of flags, and at 
several points along Main street were suspended appropriate mottoes and 
decorations, wliiie from tlic piazza of the American House, depended on 
their staffs, were the rent and smoke-stained, but eloquent, banners of 
the Fifteenth regiment. The military companies from abroad were the 
Amoskeag Veterans, Nashua Guards, and Straftbrd (niards from Dover. - 
Tables were set on the grounds west of the State House, and after the 
repast Hon. E. H. Rollins called the assembly to order, and Henry P. 
Rolfe acted as toastmaster, and two liours were spent in toasts and 
speeches. 




WIIJ.IAM D. EUDY— Co. C. 



LKONAKD M. i:ri)V-Co. C. (Sic page 215.) 



The Homci<'ard Tiip. 



6ii 




LIEUTHXAXT MARTIN — Cu. V 



6i2 The h'iftcciitli Xcio Havipshirc \'oluiitccrs. 

Durint;- the exercises the following toast was offered in 
honor of the Fifteenth regiment, to which Major Aldrich 
responded : 

The Fifteenth New Hampshire Regiment. They have illustrated the 
characteristic valor and gallantry of the New Hampshire volunteer 
soldiery, and thev shall ever occupy a conspicuous position upon the 
battle-roll of their country's defenders, and while the "Great Waters" 
roll uninterrupted to the foot of the sea, Port Hudson and its captors 
shall adorn one of the brightest pages of our nation's history. 

Major Aldrich responded by giving a history of the 
regiment and its work since it left the state, which was \ery 
interesting. 

Colonel Kingman arrived on the eleventh, and the follow- 
ing is the last order issued to the regiment : 

Headquarters Fifteenth N. H. Volunteers, 

Concord, N. H., August 12, 1863. 
Special Orders, > 
No. 37- S 

Major John Aldrich, Lieutenant C. S. Hazeltine, and Lieutenant James 
F. Parker are hereby appointed a "Board of Survey" to examine into 
and report in regard to the loss of ordnance and ordnance stores and 
clothing, camp and garrison equippage, and to condemn such as may be 
worn out and unfit for service, belonging to the several company officers. 
Company officers will immediately report deficiencies to the Board and 
submit evidences in regard to the same. 

By command of 

Col. John \V. Kingman. 
E. E. Pinkham, 

Adjutant. 

On the eleventh there died Thomas W. Merrill, Company A, 
at Concord ; josejih Brown, Company H, at Campton ; John 
Clark, Company C, at Bath ; and J. Burbank, Company E, 
at Memphis ; and on the thirteenth — the day of the 
muster-out — Dewit Clinton, Company A, at Gilford; John 
A. Powers and Andrew J. Roberts, Company C, at Concord; 



The Homcivard Trip. 



613 




SERGT. J. J. Il.\: 





ANTHONY I.. SANBORN— Co. U. 



AI.VIN BURLEIGH— Co. 
(See page 50.) 



6i4 



The I^iftcciith Xcic Hainpsltirc \ 'oliintccrs. 



John Hill. Company (i, at Buffalo ; and John H. Roberts, 
Company I, at Concord. There were but few present at the 
muster-out. 




^% 



Xoii:. Arthur A. Austin, 
Com pan}- C, who was in regi- 
mental hospital at Carrollton, May 
20, later became paralyzed and 
was sent to hospital at New 
Orleans. Upon the return of the 
regiment, at Concord, he was 
reported dead. Preparations were 
made at his home for observing 
his funeral ceremonies, and a day 
appointed therefor, but on the 
preceding midnight he reached 
home and reported at his own 
door in l^nHcld. 



ARTHUR .A.. .AU!- 



At muster-out tht- .stren,s;tli of the regiment, as shown by the adjutant's 
report, was 39 officers and 702 enlisted men. Of these there were absent 
2 officers on detached service, and 138 men sick and wounded, leaving 
37 officers and 504 men present. Of these, less than 30 officers, and not 
400 men, were reported fit for duty. 

There were known to be alxsent in liospitals outside of New Hampshire : 

At Xkw Oi{Li:.\xs, 8. Of Company C, Enos K. Hall, Arthur A. 
Austin; of Company K, Levere Duplessus, Albert Fletcher; of Company 
F, Sergt. James \V. Lull; of Company C.John N. Young; of Com- 
pany H, Corp. Wesley S. Meloon, wounded ; of Company K, Arthur W. 
Merrick, color sergeant, wounded. 

At B.vton Rouen:, 7. Of Company D, Captain Johnson and Charles 
K. White: of Company K, .Sergt. Josiah Norris, Daniel C. Abbott, 
wounded, Andrew C. (iiles, wounded; of Company I, Corp. Enos 
Rewitzer, wounded, Jeremiah W. Smith, wounded. 

At PoKT HrosoN. i. Of Company i:. John Hodgman. wounded. 



The HoviciiHini Trip. 



615 





J 



WIIXIAM .M. 1-0\VLKK— Co. V. CORl'. CIIAS 1-. SWAIN— Co. A. 





CHARLES H. ROBV— Co. A. 



uKKix i\ \viii:hi.uk— Co. A. 
(The fir.-<t to die in the regiment.) 



6i6 



The Fifteenth Xeic Havipshiie ]\^Iuiitcers. 



At AIkmi'HIs. 27 (30 were left). Of Comiiany B. Absalom Ford, 
Jonah Cami), Hylas Hackett, Joseph W. Plummer : of Company C, 
Sergt. John IJishop, Stephen Church. Ransom S. Day, Dan ]}. Gage, 
Benei-a Sherman, John Stewart: of Company D, John H. Brown, 
Walter (;. Brackett, John Newton, William L. Stevens: of Company E, 

Corp. John C. Graham, 
Jonathan Burbank, Henry 
F*. Butterfield, Frank W. 
Gould : of Company F, 
Almon F. Church, John 
Marcott, James R. Rich- 
ardson: of Company G, 
John S. Whidden ; of Com- 
pany I. John Smith, Went- 
worth Wille\ : of Company 
K, Isaac N. Ckiff (or 
Clough), Andrew J. George, 
George M. D. Mead. 

At Cairo, 5. Of Com- 
pany B. George A. Page: 
of Company C, Moody 
Howland : of Company G, 
Isaiah Swain ; of Company 
H, Sergt. Albert B. Nye: 
of Company K. Henry N. 
Brown. 

At Mouxi) Citv, 2. Of 
Company A, George T. 
Jackson; of Comixmy (i, 
David S. Huse. 

At Chica(;o. 4. Of 
Cdinpanv B, Cvrus lUnbick. Jonah Camp: of Company C, Benjamin F. 
Burnham: of Company I). William B. Taylor. 

.At Cli:\i:lanI), i. Of Company G, John C. .Mason. 
.\t Bl'Fk.m.o. 10. Of C()nip;ui\ B, Henry CcMtk. James S. Glynn, 
Andrew J. Morgan: of Company E, C^.eorge B. Lane: of Company G, 
Timothy Bl.ike. Jolm Hill: of Comi)any K.Hiram French, Frank P. 
Ireson, Matthew G. Sanborn, William L. Stanton. 

At Si'KiNCiKlKi.i), .Mass., i. Of Compan\ B, Royal F. Clark. 
At WouCKSTlCK, Mass., i. Of Company K, Lorenzo Frost. 




ADJ 



K. K. I'l.M-vli.VM 



pafjes 35S, 359.) 



The Homcivard Trip. 



617 




J. IRVING WIUTTK.MOKK— C(i. K. Wduiulcd Mr 



6i8 



The Fifteenth Xeiv Hampshire J \tliuiteers. 



At Xkw York, 2. Of Company C, Samuel A. Currier, Harvey L. 
Smith. 

At Lawkkn'ci:, Mass., i. Of Company 1], Henry S. Anni.s. 
At Towxskxi), Mass., i. Of Company E, George F. Tenney. 
Absknt. I'LACic iXKXowx, I . Of Company B, Sergt. Fred A. Mitchell. 

Officers wounded : 

Lieutenant-colonel Blair, Major Aldrich, Ailjutant I'inkham. 
Company A, Lieutenant Pickering. 
Company B, Lieutenants Wyatt and Page. 

Company C, Captain Lang, and Lieutenant Bean, bruised seriously. 
Company D, Captain Johnson, fatally. 
Company E, Captain Stearns. 
Company F, Captain Gordon. 

Company (i. Captain Osgood and Lieutenant I'ickering, bruised seri- 
ously. 

Company H, Lieutenants Seavey and Perkins. 
Company I, Lieutenants Moore and U'allingford. 

Note. Company D, as its last act, voted its company fund, amounting 
to nearly $150, half to Captain Joimson and half to John O. Langley, 
who left a large family of small children. 




Age 21 ; by an error in the ( 
on page 79 liis age is gi 



■t 



The Hoviciy.'ard Trip. 



619 





I.IlUr. K. G. WOOD- 



uii:r r. chas. s hazeltine— co. c. 



i 




JOHN JOHNSTON— Co. G. 




DAN li. l.AvilC— Cu. C. 
(See page 376.) 



620 The Fifteenth Xezv Hampshire WUnnteers. 




The heavy line shows the route of the resjiinent. The line on the ocean follows the course 
of the " Janus S. (ireen." 



The Honieivard Trip. 



621 







i 
] 




-^ - _ 


.,¥ 




w^ 


jjjff' 




^^- 


^ 


^ 


i 


^ 



SECOND I.liar. jdliX d. WAl.I.l.xr.l-ORD-Co. I. 
Promoted from sergeant-major Jamiar)- iS, is('i3 ; wounded May 27 



622 The Fifteenth Xeu< Hampshire I'oliiuteers. 

FIFTKKXTH REGIMENT N. H. VETERANS' ASSa 

CL^TION HEADQUARTERS BUIEDING 

AT THE WTHRS. 



BV E. B. HUSE. 



Since the formation of the New Hampshire Veterans' 
Association in 1875 the surviving members of the Fifteenth 
Regiment have held their annual reunions at The Weirs, in 
connection with the other military organizations of the state 
who served in the War of the Rebellion, and claim to have 
aided in large measure in the success of the state reunions 
and in the laying out and improvement of their beautiful 
camp-grounds on the shore of the " Smile of the Great 
Spirit," the beautiful Winnipesaukee Eake. 

Its members have given much time and their best efforts 
as officers and on \-arious committees to make the annual 
reunions of the state association, the last week in August, 
successful and enjoyable. Two of its comrades — Thomas 
Cogswell, in 1890, and Everett B. Huse, in 1895 — served 
as its president, and for several years past Frank H. George 
has faithfully filled the position of quartermaster. Col. John 
W. Kingman, Capt. John W. Ela, Adjt. Edward E. Pinkham, 
Corp. Noah Tebbetts, and others, who have been located and 
won fame and fortune in distant states for man}- )ears, make 
it a religious duty to grace these reunions by their presence 
and eloquent speech, and none would be complete without 
seeing and hearing them and such other comrades as have 
never seen fit to leave the state, but consider it a grand place 
to be born in, to li\-e in, and to die in. Among them we 
mention our brave Lieutenant-Colonel and ex-United States 
Senator Henry \V. Blair ; our cool, clear-headed Major John 
Aldrich ; the brave soldier, genial, eloquent, and successful 
farmer-lawyer, Capt. Thomas Cogswell ; the learned and com- 
])ani(>nablc la\v_\cr and citizen, Triv. Alvin l^urleigh, and 



Headquarters Ihiildino;. 623 

scores of other sur\-iv(n-s of that terrible campaii;n of the 
Fifteenth Regiment in the swamps of Louisiana in 1862 
and 1863. 

In 1884, the first formal action was taken by the Fifteenth 
Regiment Association to erect a headquarters building at 
The Weirs, and by contributions of its members and their 
friends the present building, as shown on the following page, 
was planned and erected in 1888, at a cost of about Si, 200, 
in which from 75 to 150 comrades of the regiment have 
gathered annually to renew the friendships formed in war 
time, and again *' drink from the same canteen." 

On the twenty-ninth day of August, 1888, these head- 
quarters were completed and formally dedicated by a grand 
reunion of 135 survivors of the regiment, and eloquent and 
appropriate speeches were made by Colonel Kingman, of 
Iowa ; Captain Cogswell, of Gilmanton ; Capt. John W. 
Ela, of Chicago ; Dr. Edgar L. Carr, of Pittsfield ; Alvin 
Burleigh, of Plymouth ; E. B. Huse, of Enfield ; also several 
comrades from other regiments and citizens, notably Rev. 
J. K. Ewer, of Concord, who served in a Massachusetts 
battery with the Fifteenth in Louisiana ; Hon. Hiram A. 
Tuttle, of Pittsfield; Hon. D. H. Goodell, of Antrim, both 
afterwards elected go\'ernor of the state ; " P^armer Holt," of 
Epping. A most touching recitation was given by Mrs. 
Thomas Cogswell. Lieutenant-Colonel Blair was unable to 
be present on account of imperative duties in the L^nited 
States senate, but sent an inspiring letter to his comrades, 
which was read by the secretar}-. 

Year by year the ranks of our gallant regiment are deci- 
mated by the grim reaper, and it will not be long before the 
last one will receive his final muster-out. So let us close 
up, and annually gather at The Weirs to renew our blood- 
cemented friendships of those dark days of rebellion and 
war, and pledge anew our devotion to the old flag wherever 
it floats. 



624 The Fifteenth Xeic Hain/^shiir J \>/nnteers. 




% -.^i^.- / 




